High-performance multi-layer switch, combined with layer 2 and layer 3

Network traffic in the Internet has significantly increased these days beca use of the extension of network system and the rapid advancement of compute r performance. Most network managers have requested high-speed and good per formance LAN switch to cope with relentless network traffic. NEC has newly developed a multi-layer switch, the ES100e/D4000, which provides a powerful solution for the enormous network traffic in the Internet. The ES100e/D400 0 implements high-speed switching of the IP (Internet Protocol) and the MAC (Media Access Control) layer along with hardware technology and also flexi bly adapts to the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switching function. This paper describes important hardware architecture of the ES100e/D4000. First , it is hardware switching architecture of the LP and the MAC layer. Next, it is that the ES100e/D4000 features excellent adaptability to the ATM-LAN environment, exchanging the Ethernet dagger to the ATM protocol function, s uch as the IPOA (IP over ATM), the LANE (LAN Emulation) and the MPOA (Multi -Protocol over ATM). Finally, it is that the ES100e/D4000 features FPGAs (F ield Programmable Gate Arrays) such as high-speed hardware transaction devi ce and supports for some future functions, such as the IPv6 (Internet Proto col version 6), whenever network managers need them.