ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode nets

Internet:

• today’s de facto standard for global data networking

1980’s:

• telco’s develop ATM: competing network standard for carrying high-speed voice/data

• standards bodies:

  • ATM Forum
  • ITU

ATM principles:

• small (48 byte payload, 5 byte header) fixed length cells (like packets)

  • fast switching
  • small size good for voice

• virtual-circuit network: switches maintain state for each “call”

• well-defined interface between “network” and “user” (think of telephone company)

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