ATM in local networks?

[AlexS]

Hello,
I have read large articles about ATM and they talks about ATM in local
networks, now my question:
Where is the difference between an "normal" network with a 10/100
switch and ATM? Does I am need an extra switch which supports ATM or
new cables? Or it is only a protocol like TCP IP and IPX?
I am confused?

[Doug McIntyre]

Cisco has generally good docs.

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/atm.htm

There's also some ciscopress books about ATM that probably explain it
in more detail.

Just because you're rooted in a corporate, ethernet/IP network
background, doesn't make that a "normal" network :) Ethernet is just
one of many, not the first, not the last. Its certainly the most
common in a corporate/home environment for networking now-a-days though.

ATM is sometimes referred to as layer 1.5. It is closest to being on
the same level as Ethernet (yes, you can have a pure ATM only switch
or a combination ATM & ethernet switch, or an ATM to Ethernet router).

ATM is transported over many types of media. There's an ancient copper
transport at 25Mbps. You can do it over T1/E1, T3/E3, SONET speeds.

You can run IP over ATM, but the switches can make more intelligant
decisions than Ethernet switches generally can.

Now-a-days, its not so much as everybody trying to fit any and every
network protocol into ATM, but more technology developed to use ATM.

[Steinar Haug]

> Now-a-days, its not so much as everybody trying to fit any and every
> network protocol into ATM, but more technology developed to use ATM.

Alternative view: Aside from its use between ADSL "modem" and DSLAM, and
some use between DSLAM and ISP, ATM is dead as a doornail.

For LANs, ATM *is* dead as a doornail. RIP.

Steinar Haug, Nethelp consulting, sth...@nethelp.no