ATM defined

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

ATM defined

Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) refers to a number of related technologies, including software, hardware, and connection media. ATM differs from other existing LAN and WAN technologies and was specifically designed to support high-speed communication. ATM allows networks to use bandwidth resources at maximum efficiency while maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) for users and programs with strict service requirements.

The basic components of ATM are the computers that are connected to the ATM network and the devices that connect these computers and ensure that data is transferred successfully. The computers that are connected to the ATM network are called end stations. Routers, DSLAMs, and ATM switches are examples of devices that connect end stations and ensure that data is transferred successfully.

Asynchronous means the available network bandwidth is not divided into fixed channels or slots synchronized by a timing mechanism or clock. Devices that communicate using asynchronous communication are not bound by design in terms of their ability to send and receive information at a precise transmission rate. Instead, the sender and receiver negotiate the rate at which they will communicate based on physical hardware limitations and the ability to maintain a reliable flow of information within the network.

Transfer mode refers to the way the information is transferred between sender and receiver. In ATM, the concept of small, fixed-length cells is used to structure and parcel data for transfer. By using cells that contrast directly with the variable-length packet mechanism used by most existing network technologies, ATM assures that connections can be negotiated and managed so that no single data type or connection can monopolize the transfer path.