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Network Simplification InterLAN switching provides simplification through multimedia network consolidation based on:
In addition, interLAN switching provides:
Open Architecture InterLAN switching is open and consistent with LAN internetworking and emerging ATM LAN standards. Multivendor interoperability over LAN interfaces is well established, this being the preferred method used to connect to the existing router base. Multiprotocol encapsulation over PPP, frame relay, and SMDS for remote access have been defined and are supported. Frame relay to ATM service interworking will allow frame relay-attached branch routers to connect to an interLAN network over a single high-speed ATM interface to the public network. INTERLAN SWITCHING APPLICATIONS The general deployment strategy for a switched interLAN is to achieve the immediate benefits of interLAN switching in a manner that provides minimal disruption to the embedded LAN/router network, and then to add ATM wide-area and local interfaces on a plug-and-play basis as the need arises. The manner in which such a network delivers the values associated with interLAN switching is best illustrated by examining a number of application scenarios. In the first application, interLAN switching is integral to an enterprise network consolidation role. The second application focuses on campus networking and could be standalone or integrated with the first. The third application discusses evolution to ATM of integrated campus, metropolitan area, and wide area networks. High-Performance InterLAN Connectivity via an Enterprise Network Consolidation Vehicle While router networks have been deployed widely in enterprise environments, there are two quite different environments in which router functional integration into an interLAN may be desirable. Some users have very large router networks. Although a necessary and well used technology, the increasing complexity of router networks, especially in large, distributed environments can significantly affect performance, manageability and network scalability. Multiple hop requirements, increased latency in routers, and congestion due to router table updates can have serious impacts on the performance of the network. Other users have multiple interconnected router networks that they may be in the process of reengineering because their bridged networks are reaching their operational limits. In both cases, the installed base of routers may be reaching a capacity limit necessitating an outright replacement. Enterprise users who have deployed a switched-interLAN or are interested in the network consolidation of their voice, video, SNA, and inter-router traffic via an ATM ENS, need to also address their requirements for high-performance interLAN connectivity. InterLAN switching provides two methods for consolidating interLAN traffic across the wide area, and provides the benefits inherent in ATM (improved performance, simplified network design, management, administration, and scalability). In the first approach, interLAN switching interfaces to the installed base of routers via a native LAN (Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and ultimately ATM running LAN emulation) interfaces and makes a non-broadcast, multi-access network look like a wide-area emulated LAN. Native LAN interfaces to routers provide the best price and performance, the highest application throughput, and lowest latency, and keep the router configuration simple, easing operational complexity. InterLAN switching provides any-to-any connectivity among LAN-attached routers located at the edge of the network. This application makes routers connected to the network appear to be one hop away from each other. A multicast facility is used to broadcast packets among the routers and a spanning tree is maintained to ensure that packets are not replicated unnecessarily. This application operates independently of network layer protocols. For example, the routers can use a proprietary routing protocol such as IGRP, or a standard such as RIP or OSPF. In the second approach, the network provides connectivity to multiple network layer protocols while hiding the details from these protocols. The network layer protocols view the network as a single hop topology with traffic being transparently switched through the interLAN network. In addition to the overall benefits of network consolidation, interLAN switching provides the following benefits:
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