3Com 155 PCI manual Glossary, ATM Forum

GLOSSARY

AAL

ATM Adaptation Layer. Translates packets of data to 53-byte cells for transmission on the network. The layers are defined to provide different classes of service for ATM connections, and to provide a method of mapping data from a particular class of service into ATM cells in such a way that the data can be remapped into its original format at the other end of an ATM network.

ATM

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. Also called “cell relay.” A switched, connection-oriented technology for local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). ATM accommodates a mix of data types such as audio, video, and data on a single network.

ATM Forum

An industry organization with over 300 members that is working to define ATM networking protocols. The group is defining and tailoring existing specifications to make ATM LANs a reality.

ATM LAN

Topology that consists of ATM switches and computer interfaces that provide high data rate connectivity for voice, video, and data (IP, SNA, and multimedia).

BUS

Broadcast and Unknown Server. A server within LAN emulation (for ATM networks) that has the ability to receive broadcast requests from all other stations on the network, and forward them to a multicast switch. The switch, in turn, broadcasts the requests to all other stations on the network.