Defining a Client Connectivity Strategy
Defining a Client Connectivity Strategy |
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You can bring high speed and quality of service directly to the clients by connecting them to an ATM network. When you are planning a client ATM connectivity strategy, decide whether you will connect the client directly to ATM, or if you are going to keep an existing Ethernet infrastructure and use LAN Emulation (LANE). If the client will use the existing infrastructure, the existing Ethernet network hardware is sufficient. You will then need LANE to connect the Ethernet segments to the ATM core of the network.
Before the client can use directly-connected ATM, it must have an ATM card that is compatible with Windows 2000. You can verify this compatibility by viewing the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). For more information about the HCL, see the Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility List link on the Web Resources page at http://windows.microsoft.com/windows2000/reskit/webresources. If the ATM network card does not support Plug and Play detection, then contact the vendor for installation software. After the system detects the ATM card, it will configure it for LAN emulation.
IP/ ATM offers the client the ability to gain access to a high-speed network while still using TCP/IP as its protocol. An IP/ ATM network uses an ATM Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) server to translate IP addresses into ATM addresses, allowing access to servers on an ATM network. A Multicast Addresses Resolution server (MARS) enables resolution of multicast addresses.
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, and Windows 95 support the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol suite. This protocol lets users transfer information and share resources, such as printers, between computers without physical cables. Most new portable computers include hardware support for IrDA.
For example, two users traveling with laptop computers can transfer files by setting up an IrDA connection instead of using cables or floppy disks. An IrDA connection can be initiated by placing the portable computers within close proximity. Distances of around three feet are supported by IrDA.
IrDA also allows a computer to access resources that are attached to another computer. For example, if you need to print a document from a laptop computer, you can create an IrDA connection to a computer that is connected to a printer — either locally or on a network. When that connection is established, and with appropriate permission, the user can print over the IrDA connection. Some printers also have direct IrDA support, allowing users to send print jobs directly to the printer over the computer IrDA port.
Windows 2000 Professional also supports the ability to allow or limit users other than the computer's owner to send files using IrDA. Users can also specify the location where documents must be received. Windows 2000 Professional automatically detects devices that use infrared communications, such as other computers and cameras.