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• ATMInternetworking White Paper

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SAN JOSE, Calif., June 19, 1995 -- Cisco Systems is enhancing itsLightStream 100 ATMswitch with three new standards-based softwarefunctions that will help users build large meshed networks of ATM switchesand effectively deploy virtual networks and a new generation ofsophisticated network applications.

Available in August as part of the Cisco InternetworkOperating System (Cisco IOS(tm)) for ATM, the new features are DynamicIISP and ILMI, whichautomatically set up connection paths and map addresses, respectively; andpoint-to-multipoint signaling, which maximizes bandwidth efficiency inbroadcast applications.

Dynamic IISP: Standards-Based Path to ATM Meshed Nets

Dynamic IISP is a dynamic version of the ATM Forum standard InterimInter-Switch Signaling Protocol, which has shipped with the LightStream 100since September. Dynamic IISP will allow LightStream 100s to automaticallyestablish connections and pass "reachability" data among themselves,eliminating the need for manual specification of connection paths. Trafficis dynamically rerouted around failed devices, maximizing networkreliability.

"Dynamic IISP is a major step in migrating users to large, fault- tolerantATM meshed networks based on the forthcoming PNNI [PrivateNetwork-to-Network Interface] Phase 1 standard," said Larry Lang, Ciscodirector of marketing for ATM products. "Our standards-based approach usesATM Forum UNI 3.0 and 3.1 signaling protocols. We also employ a link-stateprotocol similar to that anticipated in PNNI Phase 1 to exchange topologyinformation. This ensures that the LightStream 100 can interoperateimmediately with other standards-compliant switches and network interfaces.And when PNNI is finalized, Cisco will upgrade users to the completedstandard."

Point-to-Multipoint Signaling + ILMI: Foundation for LAN Emulation,VLANs

Support for ATM Forum standard point-to-multipointsignaling allows theLightStream 100 to automatically create unidirectional one-to-many switchedvirtual circuits rather than requiring multiple individual point-to-pointSVCs. This significantly improves bandwidth usage in video broadcasts, forexample, or in sophisticated client-server applications that involvesimultaneous database updating.

The Interim Local Management Interface (ILMI), also an ATM Forum standard,enables an ATM end station (e.g., router, switch, network interface card)to register its network address automatically with an ATM switch. ILMIeliminates the need for network administrators to perform time-consumingmanual address mapping.

Point-to-multipoint signaling and ILMI together form the foundation for theLAN Emulation(LANE) feature supported on Cisco workgroupswitches andATM routers; LANE enables higher-layer protocols and applications to rununmodified over ATM and permits the implementation of virtual LANs inATMnetworks. With these capabilities the LightStream 100 can be used to set upa network backbone over which multiple ATM devices -- e.g., the Cisco 7000router with AIPcard (seeaccompanying release) and Catalyst 5000switch --can interoperate to create a switched network as described in theCiscoFusionarchitecture.

The LightStream 100 ATM Switch

The LightStream 100 high-performance modular workgroup/campus ATM switchoffers 16 ATM interfaces; introduced as the HyperSwitch A100, it has beenshipping since September 1994. Supported interfaces include 155-MbpsSONET/SDH OC3 over single- and multimode fiber, 155-Mbps STS3c overunshielded twisted pair, 45-Mbps DS3 and 34-Mbps E3 over coaxial cable,and 100-Mbps TAXI 4B/5B.

Cisco Systems,Inc. is the leading global supplier of enterprisenetworks,including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access servers and networkmanagement software. These products, integrated by the Cisco InternetworkOperating System (Cisco IOS) link geographically dispersed LANs, WANsandIBM networks. Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and in the U.S.is traded under the NASDAQ symbol CSCO.

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Posted: Jun 19 10:25:42 1995