Appendix B: ATM Overview
Page B-4
BRIM-A6 User’s Guide
B.3 THE ATM NETWORK
ATM is a connection-oriented transmission technology. This means that
no information transfers prior to establishing connection between devices.
When preparing information, ATM uses Virtual Channels and Virtual
Paths as cell addresses and places this channel data into the cell header.
When transferring information, ATM combines these Virtual Channels
and Virtual Paths into bundles, or “pipes” before sending them out over an
ATM physical link segment.
B.3.1 VIRTUAL CHANNELS AND VIRTUAL PATHS
Rather than addressing cells to a specific destination, as in a LAN, ATM
addresses cells to Virtual Channels (VCs) and/or Virtual Paths (VPs). This
addressing takes place in the header field of the ATM cell.
VCs and VPs are bi-directional (i.e., they transfer information in both
directions on a single channel or path) and are “set-up” between devices
on the ATM network prior to transmission. Similar to WAN transmission,
ATM technology provides the ability of sending several VCs together
over a VP, and several VPs over an ATM link segment (Figure B-3).
Figure B-3
Virtual Channels and Virtual Paths
ATM Link Segment
VP 1
VP 2
VC 1
VC 2
VC 3
VC 1
book Page 4 Thursday, April 18, 1996 2:18 PM
Summary of Contents for BRIM-A6
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