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Chapter 20. Overview of LAN Emulation
Note: See the glossary for definitions of the acronyms and terms used in this
chapter.
The IBM 2210 implements the
LAN Emulation Over ATM: Version 1.0 Specification
which is widely accepted as the industry standard for multivendor multiprotocol
interoperability. This chapter introduces basic LAN emulation (LE) concepts in the
context of the MSS implementation. It begins by examining the motivation for
installing emulated LANs (ELANs).
LAN Emulation Benefits
LAN emulation protocols allow ATM networks to provide the appearance of Ethernet
and Token-Ring LANs. Although LAN emulation does not exploit all of the benefits
of ATM, it is useful in migrating to ATM technology and lowering network
management costs. It enables you to utilize high-speed ATM links and still protect
your software and hardware investments.
Software investments are protected because application interfaces are unchanged
(LAN emulation is implemented within the data link control layer, which is below the
device driver interface of end stations). Hardware investments are protected with
forwarding engines that bridge LAN and ATM networks so that existing adapters
and wiring can continue to be used.
LAN emulation allows incremental installation of ATM adapters in stations with
high-bandwidth requirements, for example, servers and engineering or multimedia
workstations. Physical and logical views of a simple LAN emulation example are
illustrated in 14.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 1994, 1998 255