ATM SACHINDRANATH.P.

V 1/11/2010

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2010
ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE

ATM

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ATM [Asynchronous Transfer Mode]

Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a cell-based switching technique that uses asynchronous timedivision multiplexing. It encodes data into small fixed-sized cells (cell relay) and provides data link layer services that run over OSI Layer 1 physical links. This differs from other technologies based on packetswitched networks (such as the Internet Protocol or Ethernet), in which variable sized packets (known as frames when referencing Layer 2) are used. ATM exposes properties from both circuit switched and small packet switched networking, making it suitable for wide area data networking as well as real-time media transport. ATM uses a connection-oriented model and establishes a virtual circuit between two endpoints before the actual data exchange begins. ATM is a core protocol used over the SDH backbone of the Integrated Services Digital Network.

1.

WHY CELLS In a fixed cell structure the ATM can be readily switched by hardware without inherent delays introduced by software switched and routed frames.

So the cell has the capability of reducing jitter (delay).

1. AAL
There are 5 AAL types. Only AAL1, AAL2, AAL5 are used. Synchronization maintained by AAL1. AAL2 through AAL4 are used for variable bit rate (VBR) services.

AAL5 for data.

ATM

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1.

WHY VIRTUAL CIRCUITS ATM operates as a channel-based transport layer, using Virtual circuits (VCs) This is encompassed in the concept of the Virtual Paths (VP) and Virtual Channels. Every ATM cell has an 8- or 12-bit Virtual Path Identifier (VPI) and 16-bit Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI) pair defined in its header.. As these cells traverse an ATM network, switching takes place by changing the VPI/VCI values (label swapping). Another advantage of the use of virtual circuits comes with the ability to use them as a multiplexing layer, allowing different services.

4. CALL ADMISSION AND CONNECTION ESTABLISHMENT

A network must establish a connection before two parties can send cells to each other. In
ATM this is called a virtual circuit (VC). It can be a permanent virtual circuit (PVC), which is created administratively on the endpoints, or a switched virtual circuit (SVC), which is created as needed by the communicating parties.

SVC creation is managed by signaling,

ATM 5.STRUCTURE OF AN ATM CELL

An ATM cell consists of a 5-byte header and a 48-byte payload.

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6 GFC VPI

2 VPI VCI

VCI VCI HEC PT CLP

payload and padding if necessary(48 BYTES)

GFC---Generic Flow control( 4 bits)(default:0000) VPI----Virtual Path Identifier( 8 bits UNI or 12 bits NNI) VCI--- Virtual chann(3 bits) CLPCell Lose Priority

HEC = Header Error Control (8-bit CRC, polynomial = X8 + X2 + X + 1)

ATM uses the PT field to designate various special kinds of cells for operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) purposes, and to delineate packet boundaries in some AALs.