MAGNET´s Integrated Network Architecture

The network architecture of NMAGNET, a testbed for integrated local area networks, is presented. The system architecture consists of integrated workstations, control and communication subsystems, and gateways. The network architecture incorporates this organization at the system level and represents an instance of the Integrated Reference Model previously proposed by the authors. It provides resource management, connection management and control, and user information flows in logically separate planes. Protocols supporting the control subsystem are organized in the (M)-Plane, while the protocols supporting the communication subsystem are embedded in the (C)-and (U)-Planes. The requlirements of the different traffic classes are quantified by a set of attributes to guarantee specified performance measures.