| Asynchronous transfer mode or ATM is a cell | | | | connections. ATM also has some other distinctive |
| based switching technique which has brought an | | | | features which are discussed in brief and as |
| evolution in the communication systems of today | | | | follows: |
| and are related to networking. This includes a lot | | | | - It has the potential of providing a data transfer |
| of great features and can run on both LAN and | | | | speed of up to 2.5 GBps which easily helps to |
| WAN connections. | | | | enable high bandwidth distributed applications. This |
| Most of us are familiar with the word ATM but | | | | is mainly useful for video-on-demand techniques |
| we hardly know anything about its functionality or | | | | or video conferencing which are typically based on |
| how it works. We hardly even know what this | | | | new distributed applications. It also helps to get |
| abbreviation stands for. Well ATM particularly | | | | access to remote databases including multimedia |
| stands for asynchronous transfer mode and can | | | | data. |
| be defined as a typically cell based switching | | | | - It easily provides high transmissions seeds for |
| technique which specifically makes the use of | | | | both LAN and WAN connections by simply |
| asynchronous time division multiplexing that | | | | enabling distributed applications of high power |
| enables encoding of specific data into definite | | | | which previously could only be used in LAN |
| sized cells or cell relay and provides particular data | | | | connection but failed to work on WAN networks. |
| link layer services which specifically run on OSI | | | | - It uses the basic techniques to switch between |
| Layer 1 physical links. Well most often people | | | | single integrated switching mechanisms. Thus, it is |
| confuse it with packet switched networks like the | | | | specifically suitable for those distributed |
| Internet Protocol or Ethernet where different | | | | applications which typically generate constant bit |
| sized small packets are used for data transfer. | | | | rate traffic or CBR traffic and also useful for |
| ATM or asynchronous transfer mode typically | | | | variable bit rate or VBR. |
| possesses properties of both types of | | | | - As far as traffic is concerned asynchronous |
| networking, meaning it can be used in both circuit | | | | transfer mode specifically uses virtual network for |
| switched as well as packet switched networking | | | | driving traffic within different locations. Besides |
| which may act as the best means of a wide | | | | point to point communications, it is also useful |
| range of data transfer. It is also very suitable for | | | | where a single sender and multiple receiver |
| real time media transport. The model which is | | | | services are concerned due to its multicasting |
| particularly used in this particular mode of data | | | | facility. |
| transfer is mainly connection oriented, thus easily | | | | Asynchronous transfer mode is a relatively |
| joins the two end points with virtual circuit even | | | | modern concept in the field of communication |
| before the data starts transferring. | | | | technology and it is evolving every day to provide |
| Asynchronous transfer mode-technology can | | | | new means to improve modern day networking. |
| easily be used for both LAN and WAN | | | | |