Signalling with the x-ATM Protocol Toolkit

x-ATM is a portable toolkit of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols implemented in a general purpose communications kernel (the x-kernel). The toolkit provides an environment for experimentation with ATM adaptation layers, interoperable ATM signalling, IP over ATM, and real time transport protocols. The x-kernel permits easy composability and promotes protocol modularity, thus x-ATM protocol modules may be arbitrarily layered on top of anchor protocols that represent diierent hardware devices. This supports x-ATM's protocol suite portability across many diierent platforms. The Unixx21] version of the toolkit currently has hardware support for Fore Systems SBA-100 host adapters, ASX-100 ATM switch and Fore ATM API, as well as the iPointt16] experimental ATM switch, with support for other hardware platforms planned. The toolkit may be used to implement ATM signalling entities used in ATM switch controllers and hosts with ATM adapters. In our experience, x-ATM has proven to be a exible tool in our implementation of switch controllers and interoperable signalling protocols for these platforms.