Asynchronous Transfer Mode
A major success for ESnet is its successful incorporation of a new communications technology called Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). ATM is a communications standard that allows data, voice, and video information to travel in a mixed stream through the same network hardware at a very high rate of speed.
Over the next five years, the plan is to upgrade the capability of the network to support direct ATM access at rates of Nx1.5 Mbps, 45 (T3), 155 (OC3c), and 622 (OC12c) Mbps -- a 400-fold increase over the current access rates. This upgrade is being done in concert with High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program goals, and will include a collaborative effort with a national communications vendor. ESnet is using permanent virtual circuits for its wide-area connectivity. Efforts are underway to test a switched virtual circuit capability between a few sites. Switched virtual circuits and private network-network interface signaling would allow an enhanced network with reduced network management. This working relationship with industry will help enhance U.S. competitiveness in emerging high-speed data communications technology. By making new technology available to ESnet for initial "shakedown" and subsequent incorporation into a production network, the selected vendor will be able to accelerate the deployment of new technology into the commercial marketplace. Other U.S. vendors will also be helped by the increased marketplace acceptability of the technology.
An additional project was carried out over the past few years that focused on investigating various aspects of supporting Asynchronous Transfer Mode in Local Area Networks. DOE accepted proposals from interested laboratories for local ATM (LATM) research and prototyping.
Within the project, applications and Network Interface Cards (NICs) were identified as areas in which to focus to prototype, study, and enhance the integration of ATM with existing high-performance loacl networks, and to enhance the leading edge network-based scientific applications. Special attention was also given to categorizing the network characteristics of these applications and optimizing the performance (bandwidth and latency) and scaling of the ATM networks with respect to these network-based applications. Additionally, migration of existing network infrastructures to seamless ATM networks was identified as an area of study with an eye toward a migration strategy recommendation to DOE. Investigation into the future utilization of this type of local ATM technology focused on video conferencing, distributed processing, ATM/FDDI/HIPPI interoperability, workstation performance, LAN/MAN/WAN interoperability, and many other areas. The LATM pilot project provided ESnet with a firm stepping stone that lead to the currrent integration of ATM technology into local-area networks and direct access between LANs and WANs through ATM lines.
Recently there has been growing interest in using ESnet to support research within DOE but in areas other than Energy Research. Internal formal agreements are the first steps toward making ESnet capabilities more broadly available. Expansion and enhancement of ESnet is anticipated to respond to the requirements of these DoE program areas.
