Realization of large capacity ATM switches

Large-capacity ATM switches, with switching capacity in excess of 40 Gb/s or 100 Gb/s, are becoming an essential part of network growth. To realize such switches requires technology know-how as well as implementation trade-off considerations. This article provides a system-level exploration of large-capacity ATM switches in terms of switch fabric scalability, cell buffer management, buffer design trade-off, call processing capabilities, and future trends in switch design.