(ii) Describe the architecture of an ATM network.
(iii)What is the difference between two types of connections: PVC and SVC used in ATM? (15 marks)
Answer:
(i) List three design goals of ATM.
1. The ATM switch receives a cell across a link on a known VCI or VPI value.
2. The ATM switch looks up the connection value in a local translation table to determine the outgoing port (or ports) of the connection and the new VPIIV value of the connection on that link.
3. The ATM switch then retransmits the cell on that outgoing link with the appropriate connection identifiers.
(ii) Describe the architecture of an ATM network.
An ATM network consists of a set of ATM switches interconnected by point-to-point
ATM links or interfaces. ATM switches support three kinds of interfaces:
• User-network interfaces (UNI)
• Network-node interfaces (NNI)
• Inter-Carrier Interface (ICI).