ATM and High Speed Networks

The U-M Backbone interconnects numerous data networks on campus and enables the U-M community to access Internet services like the World Wide Web. The ATM and High Speed Networks project will help the University keep pace with the rapid changes that are taking place in communications technology. For example, the upgrade will significantly improve the bandwidth available to U-M students, faculty, and staff: the current speeds of transmitting data information will nearly triple. This upgrade is considered an interim solution while the University's Information Technology Federation (ITFX) develops a new architecture for the Backbone

The ATM and High Speed Networks project also builds the foundation for the implementation and installation of the next generation networking technology and protocols that will be largely driven by the University's connection to the vBNS (very high-speed Backbone Network Service) and Internet2. Both are high speed national networks whose underlying technology will allow applications greater control over such operational parameters as bandwidth (data rate) and latency (the time between the tranmission and reception of data). These parameters are referred to as quality of service or QOS parameters.

Several possible technologies are candidates -- among them ATM, switched fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. These technologies all hold considerable promise for those departments that have applications requiring higher performance connections or QOS not possible with existing network technology.

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