Cabletron Systems BRIM-A6 APPENDIX B ATM OVERVIEW

BRIM-A6 User’s Guide Page B-1

APPENDIX BATM OVERVIEW

This Appendix covers basic Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

network operation and concepts that are critical to ATM network design

and installation. The ATM Forum User-Network Interface Speciﬁcation

provides greater detail on ATM access methods and should be referenced

whenever more information is needed. The scope of this appendix is to

provide information regarding:

• Basic ATM Concepts.

• Basic ATM technology and how it works.

B.1 ATM BASICS

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) deﬁnes a method of transmitting

and switching broadband information. This method highlights the use of

relatively small, ﬁxed-size cells (53 bytes) of information as opposed to

large, variable-sized packets found in other networking transmission

methods (ranging from 64 bytes to well over 4800 bytes). In addition, this

method is being heralded as the ﬁrst solution in erasing barriers between

local-area networks and wide-area networks – providing voice, video, and

data transmission.

The use of small ATM cells provides cost, speed, manufacturing, and

technical advantages over other existing transmission methods

(i.e., Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI). This appendix touches upon

several of these advantages and, when possible, describes them in as

much detail as the scope allows.

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Contents

Main BRIM-A6 Users Guide i NOTICE ii BRIM-A6 Users Guide VCCI NOTICE DOC NOTICE FCC NOTICE BRIM-A6 Users Guide iii EXCLUSION OF WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY CABLETRON SOFTWARE PROGRAM LICENSE CABLETRON SYSTEMS, INC. PROGRAM LICENSE AGREEMENT Page BRIM-A6 Users Guide v DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY BRIM-A6 Users Guide vii CONTENTS Contents viii BRIM-A6 Users Guide CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 USING THIS MANUAL 1.2 DOCUMENT CONVENTIONS 1.3 BRIM-A6 OVERVIEW 1.4 BRIM-A6 FEATURES 1.5 BRIM-A6 SPECIFICATIONS 1.6 RELATED MANUALS 1.7 GETTING HELP CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION 2.1 UNPACKING THE BRIM 2.2 INSTALLING APIMS 2.3 INSTALLING BRIMS 2.3.1 Installing a BRIM in a MIM Chapter 2: Installation Page 2-4 BRIM-A6 Users Guide Figure 2-2 Removing the BRIM Coverplate Figure 2-3 Installing the BRIM 2.3.2 Installing a BRIM in a Hub Page CHAPTER 3 LOCAL MANAGEMENT Chapter 3: Local Management Page 3-2 BRIM-A6 Users Guide 3.1 LOCAL MANAGEMENT KEYBOARD CONVENTIONS 3.2 USING LIM TO CREATE PVCs 3.2.1 ATM Connection Tables Screen Fields 3.2.2 ATM Connection Tables Screen Commands 3.2.3 Using ATM Connection Tables Screen Commands 3.2.4 Adding PVCs to the Connection Tables Screen 3.2.5 Deleting PVCs from the Connection Tables Screen 3.3 USING LM TO CREATE PVCS 3.3.1 BRIM-A6 Setup Screen Fields 3.3.2 BRIM-A6 Setup Screen Commands 3.3.3 Using BRIM-A6 Setup Screen Commands 3.3.4 Accessing the BRIM-A6 Add/Delete Entry Screen 3.3.5 BRIM-A6 Add/Delete Entry Screen Fields 3.3.6 BRIM-A6 Add/Delete Entry Screen Commands 3.3.7 Adding a PVC 3.3.8 Modifying a PVC 3.3.9 Deleting a PVC BRIM-A6 Users Guide Page 4-1 CHAPTER 4 LANVIEW LEDs 4.1 BRIM-A6 LEDs Table 4-1 describes each of the BRIM-A6 LEDs. BRIM-A6 Chapter 4: LANVIEW LEDs 4.2 APIM LEDs Table 4-2 describes each of the APIM LEDs. APPENDIX A APIM SPECIFICATIONS A.1 APIM-11 SPECIFICATIONS A.2 APIM-21 SPECIFICATIONS A.3 APIM-22 SPECIFICATIONS A.4 APIM-29 SPECIFICATIONS A.5 APIM-67 SPECIFICATIONS APPENDIX B ATM OVERVIEW B.1 ATM BASICS B.2 THE ATM CELL Page B.3 THE ATM NETWORK B.3.1 VIRTUAL CHANNELS AND VIRTUAL PATHS B.3.2 PERMANENT AND SWITCHED VIRTUAL CHANNELS B.4 ATM PROTOCOL