ATM網路上區域網路模擬的主從架構及信號協定之設計與製作

Abstract

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) 被視為是未來通訊技術的曙光, 從區域網路到廣域網路的連結, ATM 提供了一個建構前端及骨幹網路較好 的選擇. 然而, 目前有若干原因阻礙了 ATM 的推廣. 其一是正當目前多 數現存應用程式使用廣泛的傳統區域網路技術的同時, ATM 並沒有提供一 個成熟的應用程式介面 (API). 另一個原因是來自於其他高速且低價的網 路技術的競爭, 如高速乙太網路. 區域網路模擬提供了一個由傳統 區域網路演進到 ATM 網路順暢而又一致的解決方案.在本論文中, 我們已 在一個名為 VINCE (Vendor Independent Network Control Entity)的軟 體平臺上發展了 ATM 區域網路模擬的系統. 大多數現存的區域網路應用 程式都可以在我們的系統上運作. 因此我們已提供了一個進入 ATM 網路 技術的管道, 而未來更需要融合區域網路模擬技術和其他的解決方案, 使 ATM 網路技術更臻完善. ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is deemed as the dawn in future communication technology. It seems to provide better choice in both fore-end and backbone networks, from LAN to WAN interconnection. However, there are a few reasons hinder the wide deployment of ATM. One is that the ATM API is not yet ripe while most existing applications use the widely scattered conventional LAN technologies. Another is the competition from the alternative technologies such as fast Ethernet. LAN Emulation is one of the solutions to provide seamless and user transparent migration path from legacy LANs to ATM. As a trial, we had implemented the LAN Emulation with a public-domain software, the Vendor Independent Network Control Entity (VINCE). Most existing LAN applications can run on the ATM network via our emulated LAN. Thus we have introduced the ways to ATM technology and future work is necessary to merge LAN Emulation and other solutions to more exquisite ATM technology.