Synopsis:
This new edition of a popular book offers a strengthened focus on one of the hottest networking strategies: ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode). ATM is one of the industry's current fast-moving topics, with multi-million-dollar investments being made at a time when the technology is still being debated.

From the Inside Flap:

The ATM standards available for implementation have matured in the past two years. Though still not complete, a considerable number of new issues have been tackled and at least partly resolved. This covers mainly operation and maintenance of ATM-based networks, signalling scenarios and procedures, resource management, ATM adaptation layer type 5, etc. The promotion of ATM standards is currently being pushed not only by the conventional standards bodies such as International Telecommunications Union T (ITU-T), formerly named Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (CCITT), European Telecommunication Standard (ETSI) and American National Standard Institute (ANSI), but also in the ATM Forum which, founded in North America in 1991, has meanwhile spread all over the world. The first ATM-based trial networks and, immediately afterwards, commercial ATM networks are about to be realized in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. In Europe many network operators have signed a Memorandum of Understanding by which they commit themselves to the implementation of a pan-European ATM network. Manufacturers are offering ATM equipment such as switches, cross-connects, hubs, multiplexers, and terminal interfaces. Deployment strategies and the usage of ATM over the next couple of years are becoming clearer: customer premises networks evolve from shared medium (ring/bus) local area networks (LANs) to star-configured ATM-LANs; corporate networks (private or shared or virtual private network) employ ATM as a 'seamless' wide-area technique; public network operators realize ATM-based data backbone networks. Moreover, ATM technology is penetrating the terminal market; not only ATM interfaces are implemented but also internal control of terminals, such as workstations, will more and more be based on ATM, and desk-area networks (DANs), assembled with ATM components (ATM-DANs), will evolve. ATM is now an established technique, and the term ATM is well known to the public, so we decided to give the book the new title ATM Networks: Concepts, Protocols, Applications. The following new features have been included in this second edition:data services, such as connectionless services and frame relay, to be supported by ATM;ATM-LANs; new ATM interfaces; interim local management interface; higher-layer protocols and interworking issues (for example, frame relay and connectionless service on top of ATM; interworking between ATM-based services and others); signalling protocols; ATM switching and transmission equipment (for example, realization of ATM nodes, ATM passive optical networks); ongoing ATM network projects all over the world; objectives, network features, applications, schedules; outlook towards optical networks and their relationship to ATM. This second edition is a completely revised up-to-date version of our book on ATM-based broadband networks. The ITU-T standards references have been updated and information on specifications issued by ANSI, ETSI, ATM Forum and Bellcore has been added. However, the overall structure remains unchanged; we hope the reader already acquainted with the book will appreciate this. We have tried to keep the book 'readable,' so emphasis was again put on generally applicable ATM features supplemented by illustrative examples relating to ATM networking. The comprehensive reference list will help readers to find more detailed information on available standards, network concepts, products, etc. The authors would like to thank Professor J. Eberspacher and Professor C. Partridge for reviewing the manuscript and I. Pfaffinger and U. Utri for their efficient technical support in preparing the second edition.R. HandelM.N. HuberS. SchroderJune 1994 0201422743P04062001