Total Area Networking : ATM, IP, frame relay and SMDS explained

Total Area Networking is the deployment of high-speed data communications to allow localized facilities to become as distributed as the telephone network. It provides the information transport to enable superconnectivity which allows the user to see a distributed set of network-based resources as one This text covers both network technology and its application. It illustrates the practical implementation of Total Area Networking from the telecommunications viewpoint using the principles developed for intelligent networks. Main topics covered include ATM, Frame Relay and SMDS (Switched Multimegabit Data Service) with particular focus on their relation to each other. The result is a valuable guide for professionals involved in the planning and implementation of information systems. It covers the entire spectrum of communiciations technology from technology to implementation and provides a clear understanding of what technology can do and how it can best be deployed.