IBM ATM OC-3c - Manual (Page 11)

1
F
EATURES AND
B
ENEFITS
This chapter describes the main features of the IBM
8271 Nways Ethernet LAN Switch ATM OC-3c
Module and the benefits of ATM within your
network.
The ATM Module provides a high-speed ATM
connection between your IBM 8271 Nways Ethernet
LAN Switch and the ATM network.
Positioned within a workgroup or departmental LAN,
the ATM Module provides a fast ATM downlink to the
building or ATM campus.
Resilient links protect your Switch from network and
equipment failure, while the software upgrade
feature future-proofs your Switch by allowing you to
add new features as they become available.
Additional features are provided by the Switch, and
you should refer to the guide that accompanies your
Switch for more details. The Release Notes that
accompany the ATM Module list the IBM 8271 Nways
Ethernet LAN Switches that support the ATM Module.
ATM Benefits
ATM is the only technology specifically designed to
carry voice, video and data traffic simultaneously and
to provide the required level of service that these
different applications need in order to run effectively
across a network. ATM provides the following
benefits:
■ It is easy and low cost to add additional services to
the ATM network.
■ Services can be added as and when they are
needed. It is easier to scale ATM networks
compared to other network technologies.
■ ATM devices interoperate with your existing
network. LAN Emulation (LANE) is a standards
based technology specifically designed to provide
interoperability between existing Ethernet/Fast
Ethernet networks and ATM networks. LANE
allows users to interoperate with ATM or
traditional LAN based servers over ATM for higher
performance and functionality.