IBM ATM OC-3c - Manual (Page 13)

2
N
ETWORK
L
AYER
C
ONCEPTS
This guide contains several chapters that describe the
basic concepts behind ATM technology, and
integrating ATM into your existing network:
■ This chapter describes some of the concepts
behind the network layer architecture of a typical
ATM network.
■ Chapter 3, “Virtual LAN Concepts” describes how
Virtual LANs (VLANs) are extended into the ATM
network.
■ Chapter 4, “Putting Your ATM Network Together”
describes how to plan your ATM network.
■ Chapter 5, “Network Configuration Examples”
provides some examples of how you can use the
ATM Module within an ATM networks.
If you are already familiar with these concepts, refer
to Chapter 6, “Installing and Setting Up the Module”.
If you have read the concepts chapters and still
require a more in-depth explanation, refer to the
technical publications listed in the Bibliography.
The Layered Network Architecture
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is only part of a
layered network architecture. This architecture is
shown in Figure 2-1.
Each of the layers in discussed in turn; starting with
the Upper Layer and working down to the Physical
Layer.
Figure 2-1 Network Layer Architecture