Engineering and performance evaluation of the ABR service in second generation ATM networks

The ATM ABR service implements a flow control, which enables the efficient use of network resources. It can be used for providing ATM bearer services, or for carrying other cell services such as ATM VBR/UBR and packet services such as frame relay and IP. There are many ATM switch designs, ABR service parameters, and deployment options to consider. Judicious choice of these options and parameters could have significant impact on ABR performance in various networking scenarios. This paper starts by identifying the key switch design and network engineering considerations for the ABR service. Next, it provides simulation results and comparative analysis of ABR network performance under transient and steady state conditions for various flow control loop segmentation options. Finally, it concludes with engineering guidelines for the successful deployment of ABR in second generation ATM networks.