ATM Networks

Raj Jain
Professor of Computer and Information Sciences
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210-1277
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/~jain/
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 Overview

q ATM: Overview
q ATM Protocol Layers
q Network Interfaces
q Adaptation Layers
q Physical Layers

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 ATM Networks: Overview
q STM = Synchronous Transfer Mode,
ATM = Asynchronous Transfer Mode

Allows any-speed and even variable rate connection

q ATM = Short fixed size 53-byte cells

q Connection oriented ⇒ Virtual Channels (VC)

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q Labels vs addresses
⇒ Better scalability in number of nodes

7 9
4 2

o Switches vs routers
⇒ Faster due to fixed size, short address, simplicity
o Seamless ⇒ Same technology for LAN, WAN,
o Data, voice, video integration
o Everyone else is doing it
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 ATM Network Interfaces
Regional Carriers
Private Private Public Public Public Public
Computer
UNI Switch UNI Switch Switch
NNI
Private
NNI B-ICI
Private Long
Private Public
Computer Distance Switch
Switch
UNI Carrier
B-ICI
Digital Public Public
Router DXI Service
Computer Switch
Unit UNI Raj Jain
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 ATM Network Interfaces
q User to Network Interface (UNI):
Public UNI, Private UNI
q Network to Node Interface (NNI):
q Private NNI (P-NNI)

q Public NNI =Inter-Switching System Interface (ISSI)

Intra-LATA ISSI (Regional Bell Operating Co)
q Inter-LATA ISSI (Inter-exchange Carriers)
⇒ Broadband Inter-Carrier Interface (B-ICI)
q Data Exchange Interface (DXI)
Between routers and ATM Digital Service Units (DSU)
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 Protocol Layers
End System End System
ATM ATM
Adaptation Adaptation
Layer Switch Layer

ATM ATM ATM

Layer Layer Layer

Physical Physical Physical

Layer Layer Layer

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 Protocol Layers
q The ATM Adaptation Layer
q How to break application messages to cells

q The ATM Layer

q Transmission/Switching/Reception

q Congestion Control/Buffer management

q Cell header generation/removal at

source/destination
q Cell address translation

q Sequential delivery

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 ATM Cell Header Format
q GFC = Generic Flow Control
q (Was used in UNI but not in NNI)

q VPI/VCI = 0/0 ⇒ Idle cell; 0/n ⇒ Signaling

q HEC: 1 + x + x2 + x8
GFC/VPI VPI
VPI VCI
VCI
VCI PTI CLP
Header Error Check (HEC)
Payload
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 Header Error Check (HEC)
q Protects header only
q Optional Correction mode: Correct one bit errors if
no earlier errors
q Discard cells with bad HEC
q Used for cell delineation in SONET
q Recalculated on each hop Error
No Error No Error Drop
Correction Detection
Mode Error Mode
Correct Raj Jain
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 Connection Identifiers
q Each cell contains a 24/28-bit connection identifier
First 8/12 bits: Virtual Path,
Last 16 bits: Virtual Circuit
q VP service allows new VC's w/o orders to carriers
q VC1
VC2
VP1 VC3
VC1
Link VP2 VC2
VC3
VC1
VP3 VC2
VC3
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 VP/VC Assignment/Use
Video Data 23
23 56 2 3
56
4
Data Voice Switch 5 65
37 34 1
76
6

In Out
Port VPI/VCI Port VPI/VCI
1 0/37 3 1/23
1 0/34 4 0/56
2 0/23 5 0/65
2 0/56 6 4/76
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 Original Classes of Traffic
Class A Class B Class C Class D
Time Sync Required Required Not Not
Required Required
Bit Rate Constant Variable Variable Variable
Connection Connection Connection Connection Connection
Oriented Oriented Oriented less
AAL AAL1 AAL2 AAL3 AAL4
Examples Circuit Compressed Frame SMDS
Emulation Video Relay

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 AAL 5
q Designed for data traffic
q Less overhead bits than AAL 3/4
⇒ Simple and Efficient AAL (SEAL)
q No per cell length field, No per cell CRC

User
PAD Control Length CRC-32
Payload
0-64kB 0-40 2 2 4

0 1
PTI bit indicates last cell
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 Classes of Service
q ABR (Available bit rate): Follows feedback
Network gives max throughput with minimum loss.
q UBR (Unspecified bit rate):
User sends whenever it wants. No feedback. No
guarantee. Cells may be dropped during congestion.
q CBR (Constant bit rate): User declares required rate.
Throughput, delay and delay variation guaranteed.
q VBR (Variable bit rate): Declare avg and max rate.
q rt-VBR (Real-time): Conferencing.
Max delay and delay variation guaranteed.
q nrt-VBR (non-real time): Stored video.

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 Physical Media Dependent
Layers (PMDs)
q Multimode Fiber: 100 Mbps using 4b/5b (TAXI),
155 Mbps SONET STS-3c, 155 Mbps 8b/10b
q Single-mode Fiber: 155 Mbps STS-3c, 622 Mbps
q Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): 155 Mbps 8b/10b
q Coax: 45 Mbps, DS3, 155 Mbps
q Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
q UTP-3 (phone wire) at 25.6 Mbps, 51.84 Mbps

q UTP-5 (Data grade UTP) at 155 Mbps

q DS1, DS3, STS-3c, STM-1, E1, E3, J2, n × T1 Raj Jain

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 Summary

q ATM Overview: History, Why and What

q Protocol Layers: AAL, ATM, Physical layers, Cell
format
q Interfaces: PNNI, NNI, B-ICI, DXI
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 ATM : Key References
q H. Dutton and Peter Lenhard, “Asynchronous
Transfer Mode (ATM) Technical Overview,” 2nd
Ed., Prentice Hall, 1995.
q S. Siu and R. Jain, "A brief overview of ATM:
Protocol Layers, LAN Emulation and Traffic
Management" Computer Communications Review
(ACM SIGCOMM), April 1995. Available at
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/~jain/
q http://www.atmforum.com
ftp://ftp.atmforum.com/pub/approved-specs/
q http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/~jain/refs/hot_refs.htm
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