2
G
LOSSARY
cell
An ATM Layer protocol data unit (PDU) characterized by fixed, rather
than variable, length payloads. The standard ATM cell is 48 bytes of
payload with 5 bytes of header.
CELLplex 7000 Switch
A high-performance, modular ATM switch.
Cell Loss Priority
(CLP)
A bit in the ATM cell header indicating that if there is a need to discard
a cell, the cell with the CLP bit marked is to be discarded.
collision
Overlapping transmission of two or more nodes onto media. All data is
unusable.
connection
An ATM connection consists of the concatenation of ATM Layer links in
order to provide an end-to-end information transfer capability to access
points.
connectionless
communications
A form of packet-switching that relies on global addresses in each
packet rather than on predefined virtual circuits.
connection-
oriented
communications
A form of packet-switching that requires a predefined circuit from
source to destination to be established before data can be transferred.
Data
Communications
Equipment (DCE)
The equipment providing functions that establish, maintain and
terminate a data transmission connection.
Data Terminal
Equipment (DTE)
The equipment connected to the common carrier communications
facility. The DTE is typically a computer system or terminal.
end system
A system where an ATM connection is terminated or initiated. An
originating end system initiates the ATM connection, and a terminating
end system terminates the ATM connection.
Ethernet
A CSMA/CD, 10 Mbps, local area data network, developed by Xerox
Corporation. It is one of the most popular LANs in use.
header
Protocol control information located at the beginning of a protocol
data unit.
IEEE 802.3
IEEE standard for Ethernet local area networks.
IEEE 802.1d
IEEE standard for bridging.
abtthgde.book Page 2 Tuesday, June 23, 1998 10:29 AM
