Architecture and deployment issues in ATM LANs

Summary form only given, as follows. Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology has been promoted as a nearly ideal technology which promises to extend the capabilities and dramatically improve the performance of both local and wide area data networks. As a result, ATM-based local area network hubs and switches are seeing early deployment in corporate networks. This paper examines the fundamental end-user benefits of ATM technology in LANs and WANs. What role will ATM hubs play in premises applications versus switches? How does ATM handle so-called isochronous transmission? What is the relationship between routers and ATM switches, and how is it likely to evolve? What is the significance of distributed routing? Which wiring schemes and deployment architectures will become predominant, and why? Which of the many proposed interfaces will become popular, using which media? And finally, what is a likely cost scenario for ATM equipment over the next three to five years?.<>