FORE Systems ES-2810 Ethernet Switch User's Manual
Glossary - 3
Glossary
Glossary
Asynchronous Time Division Multiplexing (ATDM) - a multiplexing technique in which a trans-
mission capability is organized into a priori, unassigned time slots. The time slots are assigned
to cells upon request of each application's instantaneous real need.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - a transfer mode in which the information is organized
into cells. It is asynchronous in the sense that the recurrence of cells containing information
from an individual user is not necessarily periodic.
ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) - the AAL divides user information into segments suitable for
packaging into a series of ATM cells. AAL layer types are used as follows:
AAL-1 - constant bit rate, time-dependent traffic such as voice and video
AAL-2 - still undefined; a placeholder for variable bit rate video transmission
AAL-3/4 - variable bit rate, delay-tolerant data traffic requiring some sequencing and/or
error detection support (originally two AAL types, connection-oriented and connectionless,
which have been combined)
AAL-5 - variable bit rate, delay-tolerant, connection-oriented data traffic requiring minimal
sequencing or error detection support
ATM Address - Defined in the UNI Specification as 3 formats, each having 20 bytes in length.
ATM Forum - an international non-profit organization formed with the objective of accelerating
the use of ATM products and services through a rapid convergence of interoperability specifi-
cations. In addition, the Forum promotes industry cooperation and awareness.
ATM Inverse Multiplexing (AIMUX) - A device that allows multiple T1 or E1 communications
facilities to be combined into a single broadband facility for the transmission of ATM cells.
ATM Layer link - a section of an ATM Layer connection between two adjacent active ATM
Layer entities (ATM-entities).
ATM Link - a virtual path link (VPL) or a virtual channel link (VCL).
ATM Management Interface (AMI) - the user interface to FORE Systems' ForeThought switch con-
trol software (SCS). AMI lets users monitor and change various operating configurations of
FORE Systems switches and network module hardware and software, IP connectivity, and
SNMP network management.
ATM Peer-to-Peer Connection - a virtual channel connection (VCC) or a virtual path connection
(VPC) directly established, such as workstation-to-workstation. This setup is not commonly
used in networks.
ATM Traffic Descriptor - a generic list of parameters that can be used to capture the intrinsic
traffic characteristics of a requested ATM connection.
ATM User-to-User Connection - an association established by the ATM Layer to support com-
munication between two or more ATM service users (i.e., between two or more next higher
layer entities or between two or more ATM entities). The communication over an ATM Layer
connection may be either bidirectional or unidirectional. The same Virtual Channel Identifier
(VCI) is used for both directions of a connection at an interface.
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