BKIPAATM.RVW   980802

"IP Applications With ATM", John Amoss/Daniel Minoli, 1998,
0-07-042312-1, U$55.00
%A   John Amoss
%A   Daniel Minoli
%C   300 Water Street, Whitby, Ontario   L1N 9B6
%D   1998
%G   0-07-042312-1
%I   McGraw-Hill Ryerson/Osborne
%O   U$55.00 905-430-5000 800-565-5758 905-430-5134 fax: 905-430-5020
%P   371 p.
%T   "IP Applications With ATM"

The preface indicates that the target audience is corporate and
carrier planners considering the use of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode) in their enterprises.  These are, presumably, technically
literate people, and so the book can be expected to deal with high
level concepts and a minimum of tutorial content.  Even so, the text
is very demanding (and verges on the obtuse) for relatively little
return of understanding.

Chapter one appears to be either promotional material for ATM or an
explanation of its current growth.  Whatever the intent, the result is
a confusing piece that drags in other technologies at random, without
making much of anything clear.  A terse overview of the various ATM
layers is given in chapter two.  While the material is clear enough if
you work at it, the content is presented baldly without any
background.  Some of the text is confusing, such as the implication
that SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) is the preferred physical
layer when the preface has just informed us that ATM is seen as a
solution to speed limitations in SONET.  Chapter three is a review of
the different standards documents and groups involved in ATM
development.

Chapter four looks at different architecture considerations for ATM
switches.  One assumes that this discussion is intended to present the
strengths and weaknesses of these various systems so that planners can
make informed decisions on the purchase or use of a particular switch
as appropriate to their needs.  Again, though, the foundational
material is brief and presents little explanation.  Readers are not
helped by the book's propensity for creating acronyms that are 1)
minimally explained prior to use, 2) non-standard, and 3) used for
different terms at different times.  (CSF is used for both Cell
Switching Functions and Cell Switching Fabric, which have
significantly differing meanings, particularly when used in respect of
architecture.)  The lack of a glossary, and the fact that acronyms are
infrequently used in the index, and never as primary listings, doesn't
help.

Two specific ATM switches are looked at in some detail in chapters
five and six.

Chapter seven, for the first, and only, time, addresses the titular
subject of the book and looks at a variety of options for carrying
Internet Protocol (IP) traffic over ATM.  The economics of ATM
implementation presents a good outline of factors to be considered,
some rough hardware prices, and a few other factors, but almost no
consideration of the replacement of existing systems in chapter eight. 
A number of factors to consider when designing a network are listed in
chapter nine, but there is little practical help.  The same is true
for carrier concerns in chapter ten.  Chapter eleven closes out the
book with a look at voice service over ATM, and then voice service
over frame relay.

I find it hard to think of a reason why IP was included in the title
of this book other than as a marketing hook.  I also find it hard to
find to determine a purpose or audience for this book: it is difficult
to find any logical flow to the included topics.  Hardest of all is to
find a recommendation for this book: the information provided is
valid, but pretty much all the content is provided, better, in other
works.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998   BKIPAATM.RVW   980802