ATM LAN Emulation basics
 
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If you want to run ATM in the backbone of your network, but you also want to hang on to Ethernet or token ring connections at endstations, look into LAN Emulation.
An emulated LAN is a set of clients and servers connected by virtual circuits over an ATM network. It consists of LAN Emulation clients and LAN Emulation servers. If a workstation is using an ATM card, the LAN Emulation client runs there, but if the workstation is using another LAN technology, the client runs in a proxy device, often a LAN switch.
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The LAN Emulation server usually runs in a dedicated server or in an ATM switch, and it includes several processes. The first part translates MAC addresses to ATM addresses. The second part, the Broadcast and Unknown Server, makes sure a broadcast frame is sent to all members of an emulated LAN. Finally, the LAN Emulation Configuration Server gives clients the address to use to access the emulated LAN.
Taken together, these components can make sure that ATM fits well with existing LAN technologies.
