Description of LAN Emulation

ID: Q231713

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

LAN Emulation (LANE) offers interoperability between legacy networks and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Using LANE, Ethernet and Token Ring networks can interconnect with ATM networks.


MORE INFORMATION

LAN emulation over ATM consists of these general stages of operation:

Initialization

The LAN emulation client (LEC) initializes and configures itself through interaction with its local ATM switch using Integrated Local Management Interface or pre-configuration. Next, the LEC determines the LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS) address by using one of the three methods listed below:
  • It can try the well-known ATM address defined in the ATM protocol.


  • It can use the well-known virtual circuit (VC) defined in the ATM protocol (for example, VPI=0, VCI=17).


  • It can query using the integrated layer management interface (ILMI).


Client Registration

The LAN emulation client (LEC) connects to its LANE server and begins the process of joining a specific emulated LAN.

Address Resolution

Resolution of the MAC address to an ATM address is performed.

Data Transfer

Once the ATM address is determined using a LANE address resolution query, the LANE client creates an SVC and data transfer can begin.

The following example lists each step in establishing a LANE connection for a single LANE client:
  1. The client obtains its own ATM address by interacting with its local switch.


  2. The client contacts the LANE configuration server using a pre-configured or well-known ATM address or VC. If either of these does not succeed, the client uses ILMI.


  3. The LANE configuration server replies to the client with the name of its emulated LAN and the ATM address for its LANE server.


  4. Using the ATM address provided by the LECS, the LEC initiates a connection to the LANE server.


  5. The client sends a LANE address resolution request (LE-ARP) to locate the broadcast unknown server (BUS).


  6. The LANE server responds with the ATM address of the BUS.


  7. The client sets up connections for multicasting to the BUS.


Once the LANE client has completed startup and registration on the ELAN, it is ready for broadcasting and multicasting to resolve addresses.

For additional information about well-known ATM addresses, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q231701 Common Asynchronous Transfer Mode Codes and Addresses

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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