Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is the cell relay protocol designed by the ATM Forum and adopted by the

ITU-T. The combination of ATM and B-ISDN will allow high-speed interconnection of all the worlds networks. In fact, ATM can be though of as the highway of the information superhighway. The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols and architecture have managed to gather an impressive amount of market and media attention over the last several years. Intended as a technique to achieve a working compromise between the rigidity of the telecommunication synchronous architecture and packet network's unpredictable load behavior, ATM products are appearing for everything from high-speed switching to local area networking. ATM has caught the interest of both the telecommunications community as a broadband carrier for Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) networks as well as the computer industry, who view ATM as a strong candidate for high-speed Local Area Networking.

ATM Architecture As in the case of many large systems, there are a range of components and connections involved in the ATM networks. Figure shows example network architecture. All connections in the ATM network are point-to-point, with traffic being switched through the network by the switching nodes. The user access devices, called the end points are connected through User Network Interface (UNI) to the switches inside the network. The switches are connected through Network-Network Interface (NNI).

ATM Sample Network Architecture

Virtual Paths and Virtual Channels ATM uses virtual paths and channels to logically divide the bandwidth of the transmission path.The following figure, Channels within a Path inside the Transmission Medium, shows how virtual paths and channels are divided within the transmission medium. Channels Within a Path Inside the Transmission Medium

Transmission Path: The transmission path consists of the physical cable connected to a particular port of an ATM switch. The cable has a defined bandwidth, such as 155 megabits per second for an Optical Carrier-3 (OC-3) optical fiber link. Virtual Path: The bandwidth of the transmission path is logically divided into separate virtual paths and identified using the VPI in the ATM header. Each virtual path is allocated a fixed amount of bandwidth. Virtual paths do not dynamically vary their bandwidths beyond what has been allocated. Virtual Channel : The bandwidth of a virtual path is logically divided into separate virtual channels using a virtual channel identifier in the ATM header. Unlike virtual paths, virtual channels share the bandwidth dynamically within a virtual path.

Cells At the core of the ATM architecture is a fixed length "cell." An ATM cell is a short, fixed length block of data that contains a short header with addressing information, followed by the upper layer traffic, or "payload." The cell structure, shown in Figure, is 53 octets long, with a 5 octet header, followed by 48 bytes of payload. By fixing the length of each cell, the timing characteristics of the links and the corresponding network are regular and relatively easy to predict; predicting the dynamics of variable length packet switched networks isn't always easy.

ATM Cell Structure (UNI Format)

ATM Layers

Layer

Function

Application Adaptation Layer

The ATM Adaptation layer facilitates the use of packets larger than a cell. Packets are segmented by the ATM interface, transmitted individually, and then reassembled on the receiving end. The ATM Adaptation Layer includes the Segmentation and Reassembly and Convergence sublayers.

ATM

The ATM layer regulates cells and cell transport and establishes and releases Virtual Circuits. The ATM layer has no sublayers

Physical

The Physical layer represents the physical medium and regulates Physical layer functions such as voltages and bit timing. The Physical layer consists of the Transmission Convergence and the Physical Medium Dependent sublayers

ATM Adaptation Layer or Application Adaptation Layer The ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) creates and receives 48-byte payloads through the lower layers of ATM on behalf of different types of applications. Although there are five different types of AALs, each providing a distinct class of service, Windows Server 2003 supports only AAL5. ATM Adaptation is necessary to link the cell-based technology at the ATM Layer to the bit-stream technology of digital devices (such as telephones and video cameras) and the packet-

stream technology of modern data networks (such as frame relay, X.25 or LAN protocols such as TCP/IP or Ethernet). The ATM Adaptation layer adapts user traffic into cell-format. AALs break data of various types, having different characteristics into 48 byte-cells. At the receiving end the cells are reassembled into the original form by the AAL. Different AALs exist for different types of traffic. AALs are divided into 2 sub-layers namely Convergence Sub-layer (CS) and the Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR) sub-layers. The function of the CS layer is to describe the method in which non-ATM traffic is converted into ATM traffic. The function of SAR layer is to insert data into ATM cells and adds header information. There are different types of AALs, each supporting a different type of traffic or service.

Type1: Constant Bit Rate (CBR) service: AAL1 supports a connection-oriented service in which the bit rate is constant. Examples of this service include 64 Kbit/sec voice, fixedrate uncompressed video and leased lines for private data networks.

Type2: Variable Bit Rate (VBR) service: AAL2 supports a connection-oriented service in which the bit rate is variable but requires a bounded delay for delivery. Examples of this service include compressed packetized voice or video. The requirement on bounded delay for delivery is necessary for the receiver to reconstruct the original uncompressed voice or video. AAL2 has not been fully developed yet.

Type3: Connection-oriented data service: Examples of this service include connectionoriented file transfer and in general, data network applications where a connection is set up before data is transferred. This service has variable bit rate and does not require bounded delay for delivery. The ITU originally recommended two types of AAL protocols to support this service class, but these two types have been merged into a single type, called AAL3/4.

Type4: Connectionless data service: Examples of this service include datagram traffic and in general, data network applications where no connection is set up before data is transferred. Either AAL3/4 or AAL5 can be used to support this class of service.

AAL5 AAL5 provides a way for non-isochronous (time-dependent), variable bit rate, connectionless applications to send and receive data. AAL5 was developed as a way to provide a more efficient

transfer of network traffic than AAL3/4. AAL5 merely adds a trailer to the payload to indicate size and provide error detection. AAL5 is the preferred AAL when sending connection-oriented or connectionless LAN protocol traffic over an ATM network. Windows Server 2003 supports AAL5. AAL5 provides a straightforward framing at the Common Part Convergence Sublayer (CPCS) that behaves more like LAN technologies, such as Ethernet. The following figure, Breakdown of an AAL5 Cell Header and Payload, shows a detailed breakdown of an AAL5 Cell Header and Payload, followed by a detailed description of each of the components. Breakdown of an AAL5 Cell Header and Payload

With AAL5, there is no longer a dual encapsulation. The service class frames cells at the CPCS, but not at the Segmentation and Reassembly sublayer to minimize overhead. It also uses a bit in the Payload Type (PT) field of the ATM header rather than a separate SAR framing. AAL5 is the AAL of choice when sending connection-oriented (X.25 or Frame Relay) or connectionless (IP or IPX) LAN protocol traffic over an ATM network. ATM Layer The ATM layer provides cell multiplexing, demultiplexing, and VPI/VCI routing functions. The ATM layer also supervises the cell flow to ensure that all connections remain within their negotiated cell throughput limits. If connections operate outside their negotiated parameters, the ATM layer can take corrective action so the misbehaving connections do not affect connections

that are obeying their negotiated connection contract. The ATM layer also maintains the cell sequence from any source. The ATM layer multiplexes and demultiplexes and routes ATM cells, and ensures their sequence from end to end. However, if a cell is dropped by a switch due to congestion or corruption, it is not the responsibility of the ATM layer to correct the dropped cell by means of retransmission or to notify other layers of the dropped cell. Layers above the ATM layer must detect the lost cell and decide whether to correct it or disregard it. In the case of interactive voice or video, a lost cell is typically disregarded because it takes too long to resend the cell and place it in the proper sequence to reconstruct the audio or video signal. A significant number of dropped cells in time-dependent services, such as voice or video, results in a choppy audio or video playback, but the ATM layer cannot correct the problem unless a higher Quality of Service is specified for the connection. In the case of data (such as a file transfer), the upper layer application must sense the absence of the cell and retransmit it. A file with randomly missing 48-bytes chunks is a corrupted file that is unacceptable to the receiver. Because operations, such as file transfers, are not time dependent, the contents of the cell can be recovered by incurring a delay in the transmission of the file corresponding to the recovery of the lost cell. Physical Layer The physical layer provides for the transmission and reception of ATM cells across a physical medium between two ATM devices. This can be a transmission between an ATM endpoint and an ATM switch, or it can be between two ATM switches. It also defines the encoding and electrical to optical transformation. It provides convergence with physical transport protocols, such as SONET and T-3, as well as mechanisms for transforming the flow of cells into a flow of bits. ATM Applications ATM is used in both LANs and WANs.

ATM WANs: ATM is basically a WAN technology that delivers cells over a long distance. In this type of application, ATM is mainly used to connect LANs or other WANs together. A router between the ATM network and the other network serves as an end point. The router has two sacks of protocols: one belonging to the ATM and the other belonging to the other protocol. ATM LANs: ATM was originally designed as a WAN technology. However, the high data rate of the technology (155 and 622 Mbps) has attracted the attention of designers who are looking for more and more speed in LANs. At the surface level, the use of ATM technology in LANs seems very natural.

International Institute of Professional Studies

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, M.P.
Session Jan May, 2012

Assignment
Data and Computer Communication
Master of Technology (Information Technology) Semester VI

Submitted By:
Ritu Rajput IT-2k9-34