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Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is a switching technique used by telecommunication networks that uses asynchronous time-division multiplexing to encode data into small, fixed-sized cells.
This is different from Ethernet or internet, which use variable packet sizes for data or frames. ATM is the core protocol used over the synchronous optical network (SONET) backbone of the integrated digital services network (ISDN).
Techopedia Explains Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Asynchronous transfer mode was designed with cells in mind. This is because voice data is converted to packets and is forced to share a network with burst data (large packet data) passing through the same medium.
So, no matter how small the voice packets are, they always encounter full-sized data packets, and could experience maximum queuing delays. This is why all data packets should be of the same size. The fixed cell structure of ATM means it can be easily switched by hardware without the delays introduced by routed frames and software switching.
Because of this, some people believe that ATM is the key to the internet bandwidth problem. An evolution of packet switching, the ATM technology was instrumental in the development of broadband ISDN a few decades ago.
A virtual circuit or connection must be established before the two endpoints can actually exchange data. After the connection is set up, all cells reach their destination by following the same path. Each cell comprises a 5 bytes header and a 48 bytes payload, for a total of 53 bytes.
Traffic rate can be constant or variable. ATM creates fixed routes between two points before data transfer begins, which differs from internet protocol suite (TCP/IP), where data is divided into packets, each of which takes a different route to get to its destination. This makes it easier to bill data usage. An ATM network is less adaptable to a sudden network traffic surge.
The ATM provides data link layer services that run on the OSI’s Layer 1 physical links. It functions much like small-packet switched and circuit-switched networks, which makes it ideal for real-rime, low-latency data such as VoIP and video, as well as for high-throughput data traffic like file transfers.
Since all cells have a fixed length, the network traffic is easily predictable, and thanks to the inbuilt clocking of cells, quick cell switching is possible. This ensures that the quality of service levels can be easily guaranteed to the end-user.
ATM services generally have four different bit rate choices:
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Available Bit Rate: Provides a guaranteed minimum capacity but data can be bursted to higher capacities when network traffic is minimal.
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Constant Bit Rate: Specifies a fixed bit rate so that data is sent in a steady stream. This is analogous to a leased line.
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Unspecified Bit Rate: Doesn’t guarantee any throughput level and is used for applications such as file transfers that can tolerate delays.
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Variable Bit Rate (VBR): Provides a specified throughput, but data is not sent evenly. This makes it a popular choice for voice and videoconferencing.
