High-performance techniques for gigabit ATM switching and networking

While the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) offers a potential for tremendous flexibility and new service capabilities for next-generation broadband networking, it also creates challenges in switching and networking. Some of these challenges are addressed, and four specific high-performance techniques, all interrelated, are described as step-by-step solutions expanding from switch to network designs. Starting with the ATM switch fabric as a key building block for most ATM network elements, it is shown how the principle of a growable switch architecture can be used to generate technology-independent designs yielding optimum performance. A practical implementation technique called hierarchical multiplexing is discussed. It uses a high-speed core fabric for versatile line interfaces. Expansion of the core fabric is supported by the Growable Switch Architecture. The third technique is memory sharing, which allows an optimal shared use of buffer space in the ATM fabric to minimize cell loss due to fluctuations in traffic statistics. The last technique is another resource-sharing approach called line or channel sharing for congestion control in an ATM backbone network