ATM
The acronym ATM stands for asynchronous transfer mode is one of the technological systems developed for both local and wide area networks LAN and WAN, and designed to handle information including video, voice traffic all at once. The system architecture utilizes switches that set up logical circuits at both ends of the data stream which insures exceptional quality of service. The network technology is based on transferring data in cells or packets of a fixed size. The cell used with ATM is comparatively little compared to the units used with older technologies.
Data Transfer and Flexibility
When the cell size is small and constant, it allows ATM equipment transmits video, audio and computer data over the same network, and make sure that no single type of data hogs the line. People might think that ATM has clue to the internet bandwidth problem, but others are cynical. The technology produces a fixed channel between two points when the data is transferred. It is a lot different from TCP/IP where information is divided into packets and each packet can take a diverse route from source to destination. So this difference makes it simpler to track and bill data usage across an ATM network, which reduces the flexibility to abrupt network traffic.
The ATM Address and Distribution
And the final state the data transfer comprises of resolving the ATM address of the destination LEC (lane client) and actual data transfer which might include the flush procedure. When the LEC has a data packet to send to an unknown-destination MAC address, it should identify the ATM address of the destination LEC through which the specific addresses can be reached. To achieve this task the LEC primarily sends the data frame to the BUS for distribution to all of them in ELAN through the multicast forward VCC (configuration direct).
The Idea and the Development
The ATM idea was initially conceived in 1990s, lots of people believed it as the next best thing in networking technologies because it can control both LAN and WAN technologies, permitting users to decide between LAN and WAN with ease and had become single integrated system combining both.
But in reality ATM was not as thought of earlier as enchantment end to end solution integrating LAN and WAN technologies. The technology adapters for LAN-based desktops were expansive, and the standards for interconnecting networks using the ATM cell system were often confused and delayed. For instance the telephone companies, ISPs and large corporations made use of ATM for their WAN architecture and critical strength because of the quality of service which could be assured.
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