ATM LAN Emulation (LANE)

Trebea-Corda Cristian
Technical University,
Cluj-Napoca

LAN Emulation (LANE)

What is LAN Emulation

makes an ATM interface look like

one or more LAN interfaces (CISCO
LANE Overview)
Specified in LAN Emulation over ATM
(ATM_FORUM 94-0035)
Approved in Feb 1995, as LE V 1.0
The reason and goals of LANE

Interconnectivity and transparency

Types of LANE connectivity

All ATM
connections
LAN to ATM
connections
LAN to LAN
connections (with
ATM backbone)

LAN emulated
characteristics

Connectionless Service
Multicast addresses

Multicast MAC

MAC driver interfaces in ATM

stations
Emulated LANs
Interconnection With Existing LANs

Architecture of LANE

Components of LANE

LAN Emulation client software

LAN Emulation Service

Controlls an ATM interface

Three servers

Emulated LANs

Ethernet/IEEE 802.3
Token Ring/IEEE 802.5

LANE Clients

Role

Ethernet/Token
Ring frames to
AAL5
Uses Virtual
Channel
Connections (VCC)
MAC for each ATM
interface

Application layer
Transport layer (e.g. TCP)
Network layer (e.g. IP)
LAN Emulation Client

ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL5)

ATM Layer
ATM Physical Layer

Switching and
bridging functions

LANE Client Protocol

Elements

Transmitted frames (with AAL5

frames)

Ethernet II (DIX)
IEEE 802.2/IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
Token Ring

LANE Service

Handles multiple LECs

LUNI (LANE User Network Interface)

Three components

LAN Emulation Configuration Service (LECS)

LAN Emulation Server (LES)
Broadcast/Unknown Server (BUS)

LANE Client Initialization

Connect to LECS

ILMI
Anycast address reserved for LECS
Use a special PVC, with VPI/VCI 0/17

Interact with LECS

Send ATM and MAC address, LAN type and

supported frame size
Receive LES address, LAN type and frame
size to be used

LANE Client Initialization

Communication with LES

Point-to-point connection (Control Direct

VCC)
JOIN REQUEST control frame
JOIN RESPONSE control frame
Connection is maintained in point-tomultipoint list

LANE Client Initialization

Communication with LES

JOIN REQUEST

Client ATM and MAC addresses

Type of LAN and maximum frame size to
be supported
Indication if the client acts as proxy for
remote MACs (it is switch or edge device)
The name of ELAN wished to join (if
known)

LANE Client Initialization

Communication with LES

JOIN RESPONSE

Similar fields with JOIN REQUEST

Mandatory fields

Type of LAN
Maximum frame size
Name of ELAN

Assigns a LANE Client ID (LECID)

Connecting to the BUS

LEC requests to the LES the ATM

broadcast address for all 1s MAC
address
The reply is the BUS address

Address Resolution

A LANE Client needs to know either

The peer LANE Client ATM address

The proxy edge device ATM address

Steps of communication

LE-ARP request to LES

The LES either forwards or responds
with the address
The connection is opened

Quick Sends and Flushing

An alternative to LE-ARP is BUS

After broadcast, new connection
can be opened

LE_FLUSH_REQUEST, path clear

request
LE_FLUSH_RESPONSE, path cleared

Operating with Higher Layer

Protocols

After finding the peer MAC address

Use BUS
Ask the LES the peer ATM, for
connection opening

IETF proposes ATMARP Server

Next Hop Resolution

Protocol

ATMs as non-broadcast multiaccess network (NBMA)

NHRP finds the ATM address of the
best next hop

Multiprotocol Over ATM

MPOA device

MPOA server

Router containing MPOA server software

Shortcut

ATM interface, LANE software, MPOA client

software

ATM VCC, used instead of the default path

A MPOA device requests shortcut

information from a MPOA server
Shortcuts are opened only at steady traffic

References

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios
113ed/113ed_cr/switch_c/xcovlane.htm
http://www.iphase.com/docs/whitepapers/lanemul.cfm
http://www.rad.com/networks/1996/atmle/atmle.htm
http://www.ece.wpi.edu/courses/ee535/hwk96/hwk5cd96/cobd
en/cobden.html
http://www.protocols.com/pbook/lane.htm
http://www.atmforum.org
http://cell-relay.indiana.edu/cell-relay/
Dr. Sidnie Feit Wide Area High Speed Networks