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Agile Systems Packaged ATM Systems
Part Number: ATM125-S2T6F6
ATMizer 125 Unit Configured with Six 10Base-T and Six 10Base-FL Ethernet Ports, Two 155 Mb/Second ATM Multimode Fiber I/O Ports, Power Supply and Management Module.



The ATMizer 125 Relational Switch is a new class of networking device that allows designers to build local ATM backbones that deliver high performance and high availability, with greatly reduced administration.

The ATMizer combines an ATM cell switch and an Ethernet switch into a single unit. ATMizers connect together to form a relational network, an intelligent, high capacity switching fabric that integrates existing endstations, routers and wiring hubs into a single cohesive backbone network.

ATMizers inspect LAN traffic and automatically form relational LANs that interconnect related users. Each relational LAN connects endstations operating with the same protocol type and subnetwork address. As a result, workgroup or department endstations communicate directly with each other, even when geographically dispersed about the network. Relational LANs improve client/server application performance and simplify the administration of user moves, adds and changes.


ATMizer Features


Distributed ATM Switching

When interconnected by 155 Mbps links, ATMizers form a high performance, distributed ATM backbone. A variety of physical topologies are possible including daisy chain, ring or mesh.

Each ATMizer requires only a single ATM link to participate in the relational network. Additional links provide more capacity and reliability. This allows network designers to build local backbones that meet specific capacity goals and have no single point of failure.

Relational LANs

Relational LANs are a new and powerful networking concept that significantly improves the performance and administration of local backbone networks.

ATMizers automatically form relational LANs that interconnect endstations of the same protocol type and subnetwork address (e.g., IP subnet, IPX network). This operation is transparent to endstation protocols and applications. ATMizers forward traffic based on network-layer content to ensure that broadcast and multicast frames only go to endstations on the same relational LAN.

Unlike router-based networks that require a protocol's subnetwork address to match a physical LAN segment, relational LANs allow a subnetwork address to identify a set of related endstations, independent of their physical location. A relational LAN connects these related endstations and maintains connectivity through all moves, adds and changes.

Routers act as gateways between relational LANs. Packets only flow through the router when traffic flows between relational LANs. Since router access lists and filters now define traffic policies between logical user groups rather that physical LAN segments, they do not change when users move.

ATMizer Functional Description

As shown below, the ATMizer 125 combines Ethernet switching, ATM cell switching, ATM connection management and relational LAN management, all in one unit.


Ethernet Switch

The ATMizer's Ethernet switch connects twelve shared Ethernet segments to the internal ATM cell switch. All pports learn, filter and forward frames at wire-speed. Frames destined for the ATM switch convert to cells in accordance with the ITU-T AAL5 specification.

Mission critical Ethernet devices can be dual-homed to ports on different ATMizer units. A redundant Ethernet connection operates in hot-standby mode and becomes active in seconds should the primary connection fail.

ATM Cell Switch

The ATMizer's ATM switch performs hardware-based cell switching between the Ethernet switch and up to five external ATM links. Its shared memory architecture employs dynamic buffer allocation to yeild high throughput, low delay and extremely low cell loss. Four priority levels ensure that a diverse range of user applications can coexist across the network. Hardware cell replication provides highly efficient forwarding of multicast LAN traffic.

ATM Connection Manager

The ATMizer contains an ATM connection manager that allows each ATM port to function in two ways--a Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) for connecting to an ATM switch, or a User-to-Network Interface (UNI) for connecting to an ATM endstation that supports ATM Forum LAN Emulation.

The ATM connection manager establishes ATM virtual channel connections (VCCs) across the backbone. ATMizers exchange information to maintain topology database. When a VCC is created, a shortest path first algorithm uses this database to determine the best path.

The ATM connection manager monitors the ATM backbone topology to ensure connectivity. A physical topology change causes a transparent re-optimization of VCCs. In the event of a link failure, VCCs re-establish in seconds through an alternate path.

Relational LAN Manager

The relational LAN manager automatically detects endstations and connects them to the correct relational LANs. The network-layer content of frames is examined to determine the originating endstation's membership. Relational LANs are then formed by manipulating Ethernet switch tables and creating ATM VCCs using UNI signaling.

Relational LAN information is shared with other ATMizers to ensure that frames are forewarded only to the proper destinations. The relational LAN managers operate in a distributed manner to eliminate bottlenecks and single points of failure characteristic of centralized approaches.

System Capabilities

The ATMizer offers many features to minimize network downtime including hot swap of redundant power supplies and ATM port modules. Software updates may be downloaded to the ATMizer flash PROM over the network or from a rear panel PCMCIA flash memory card while the network is operational. Configuration information survives power losses because it is stored in non-volitile RAM. Built-in sensors report over-temperature, low voltage, fan failure or power supply failure.

The ATMizer supports Agile and IETF defined MIBs that are accessible by SNMPv1 or SNMPv2 management applications. In addition, the ATMizer console can be accessed by telnet or through local serial ports.

Corporate Headquarters: 10140 Mesa Rim Road, San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 453-9191 (800) 334-9191 Fax: (619) 453-9294
E-mail: inquire@andataco.com URL: http://www.andataco.com

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ATM Switches