Backward Explicit Congestion Notification for ATM Local Area Networks

Abstract

The application of backward explicit congestion noti cation (BECN) to an ATM LAN is investigated in order to support the dynamic sharing of bandwidth between high-speed, bursty, data tra c sources. The results of a simulation study are presented which suggest that a BECN mechanism may provide simple and e ective tra c management for an ATM LAN or campus backbone network of up to at least 50 km diameter. Cell loss due to congestion may be prevented and a link utilization in excess of 80% may be maintained with only 0.08% of the link bandwidth, per active source, carrying backward congestion noti cation tra c during a congestion event.