Introduction to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Ethernet

Ethernet Vs ATM (http://slideplayer.com/slide/249359/)

          First, the selling point of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is quality service which means high-speed with 4 types of service levels. Second, the Ethernet is the most popular LAN (Local Area Network) technology today with over 120 million hosts. The rate of transfer is 10Mbps for the Ethernet.

          Moreover, the comparison between ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and ETHERNET on the following aspects:

# Bandwidth. Previously, ATM is expected to allow true broadband networking for the future. Today, we know that Ethernet is still a hot technology of LAN (Local Area Network). Ethernet have brought more bandwidth to the network technology.

# Scalability. ATM uses both WAN (Wide Area Network) and LAN (Local Area Network technologies, but ATM is more fit with WAN. However, Ethernet is based mainly on LAN. In the future, Ethernet may use WAN as well.

#Interoperability. Gigabit Ethernet is version of Ethernet, the technology delivers data with speed of 1000 Mbps with fiber-optic cables. However, the operation concept of LAN in Ethernet will not be changed. Moreover, ATM LANE has been developed in order to be properly pursued in old LAN, and easily operated on the desktop. Thus, LAN interoperates with ATM technology.

#Quality of Service

ATM is the top network system to transport data, voice and video until now, thus quality of service is the best. Compared to Ethernet, increasing the speed (bandwidth) of Ethernet could be mean as increasing quality of service.

          Both ATM and Ethernet have their own merit in “high speed” internet technologies. They will compete in the long terms with no one had signs to disappear in the near future. It is mean that quality of service will improve, and benefit for customers.