This paper describes a network vision based on a new switching paradigm which combines LAN routing and bridging together with consolidation of data,voice,video and image,thus making it suitable for deployment in a variety of enterprise networking applications.This advanced architecture,based on asynchronous transfer mode(ATM)technology,incorporates both frameswitching and cell-switching.Frame switching ensures bandwidth efficiency and cost effectiveness for a broad range of data applications.Cell switching provides the benefit of performance and capacity for high speed applications.This architecture,cornbined with traffic management capabilities and frame to cell conversion,allows the user to take full advantage of the benefits of both frame and cell simultaneously.This switch architecture also allows the easy addition of ATM capabilities as required.The architecture described in this paper has been implemented in the Northern Telecom MagellanTM PassportTM enterprise network switch.
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