The IP over ATM Mailing List Archive by date

[Curtis Villamizar <curtis@ans.net>]

In message <9603291616.AA25073@dogfish.zk3.dec.com>, schulter@zk3.dec.com write
s:
> On Fri, 29 Mar 96 03:17:25 EST Paul Ferguson wrote:
> 
> >  Yes, ATM should change, in so many words.
> >
> >  IP, like it or not, is entrenched in the global environment [Internet].
> >  This is not likely to change.
> 
> Is it likely that ATM will change?  This is an interesting question.  A lot
> of people seem to feel that ATM should change in order to better handle
> IP traffic.  While I don't think this is bad, I have to ask if this is
> realistic.


Peter,

The idea that the requirements of IP will influence ATM is not at all
unrealistic.  ATM already has changed somewhat.  Just a few years
back, in 1993, looking inside the AAL frame was unthinkable and
reservations and traffic shaping was all the congestion management
that anyone would ever need.  We now recognize that PPD is essential
for data.  We have EPD and ABR (well.. will soon have).  ATM
proponents in 1993 regarded bursty data protocols, specifically TCP,
as short term solutions that would be replaced by native ATM
protocols, hence only a need for very minimal buffering.  There are
few switches with minimal buffering remaining.  So ATM has already
changed to accomodate IP.

Curtis

ok- last one from me on this thread.