ATM Switching Tables

The record should include the number of keys using the m-bit mapping within a particular RAM so that if the last key using it is removed, the mapping within the RAM can be replaced by the NIC. Also, if a new key is added to the lookup table and the corresponding entry in RAM i is the m-bit NIC, a regular (non-NIC) m-bit mapping can be chosen from those that are unused in RAM i (if one is available). These records require memory in addition to the lookup table memory calculated earlier. However, as table entry changes are relatively infrequent and have less stringent time constraints, such records may reside in management entities external to the lookup table. 6. CONCLUSION As ATM networks mature from experimental to commercial arenas, demand for connections will rise in accord with real customer applications. To meet these future demands, new methods for storing and retrieving switching control information are needed to replace conventional techniques that restrict size and speed. This paper offers two solutions based on high density, fast, ubiquitous Random Access Memory (RAM). We have shown how they work, how to calculate and optimize their memory requirements, and how they compare to conventional methods for implementing ATM switching tables.