The Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 (or ATM T3/E3) network module provides Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) services on a T3 or E3 connection. This feature module explains how to configure the ATM
T3/E3 network module for each connection. The ATM T3/E3 network module is supported on
Cisco 2800 and Cisco 3800 routers and includes the following features:
• ATM traffic management features including constant bit rate (CBR), variable bit rate (VBR),
available bit rate (ABR), unspecified bit rate (UBR), and UBR+
Your Cisco IOS software release may not support all the features documented in this module. To reach
links to specific feature documentation in this module and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is
supported, see the “Feature Information for the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module” section on page 26.
Finding Support Information for Platforms and Cisco IOS and Catalyst OS Software Images
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco IOS and Catalyst OS
software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/cfn. You do
not need an account on Cisco.com.
• Restrictions for the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module, page 2
• Information About the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module, page 2
• How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module, page 4
Americas Headquarters:
Cisco Systems, Inc., 170 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134-1706 USA
Restrictions for the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module
• SVCs, page 11
• Customizing the ATM T3/E3 Network Module, page 15
• Configuration Example, page 16
• Recommendations for Watermark Settings, page 16
• Additional References, page 19
• Command Reference, page 21
• Feature Information for the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module, page 26
• Obtaining Documentation, Obtaining Support, and Security Guidelines, page 6
Restrictions for the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module
The following restrictions apply to the Cisco ATM T3/E3 network module:
• There is no default card type configuration on the ATM T3/E3 network module. You must configure
the ATM T3/E3 network module for T3 or E3 before it will work.
• The atm vc-per-vp command is not supported on the ATM T3/E3 network module.
Information About the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module
To configure the Cisco ATM T3/E3 network module, you should understand the following:
• ATM, page 2
• Permanent Virtual Circuits, page 3
• Switched Virtual Circuits, page 3
• Classes of Service, page 4
ATM
ATM is an International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunications Standards Section (ITU-T)
standard for cell relay wherein information for multiple service types (such as voice, video, and data),
is conveyed in small, fixed-size (53-byte) cells via connection-oriented virtual circuits (VCs).
Virtual Circuits
A virtual circuit (VC) is a point-to-point connection between remote hosts and routers. A VC is
established for each ATM end node with which the router communicates. The characteristics of the VC
are established when the VC is created and include the following:
• Classes of Service
• ATM adaptation layer 5 (AAL5)
• Encapsulation type:
–
Logical link control Subnetwork Address Protocol (AAL5SNAP)
–
Multiplexer (AAL5MUX)
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
2
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
–
Network Layer Protocol ID (AAL5NLPID)
–
Integrated Local Management Interface (ILMI)
–
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
–
ITU/Q.2931 Signaling ATM Adaptation Layer (QSAAL)
–
Cisco AUTO PPP over AAL5 (aal5autoppp)
–
Cisco PPP over AAL5 (aal5ciscoppp)
Each VC supports the following router functions:
• Multiprotocol switching
• Fast switching of IP packets
• Flow, and Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) switching of IP packets
• Pseudo-broadcast support for multicast packets
By default, CEF switching is enabled on all ATM T3/E3 module interfaces. These switching features can
be turned off by using interface configuration commands. Flow must be explicitly enabled for each
interface.
Information About the Cisco ATM T3/E3 Network Module
Permanent Virtual Circuits
To use a permanent virtual circuit (PVC), configure the PVC in both the router and the ATM switch.
PVCs remain active until the circuit is removed from either configuration. When a PVC is configured,
all the configuration options are passed on to the OC-3 module. You can write these PVCs into NVRAM;
they are used when the system image is reloaded.
Some ATM switches might have point-to-multipoint PVCs that do the equivalent of broadcasting. A
point-to-multipoint PVC can be used as the sole broadcast PVC for all multicast requests.These
switching features can be turned off by using interface configuration commands. Flow must be explicitly
enabled for each interface.
Switched Virtual Circuits
ATM switched virtual circuit (SVC) service operates much like X.25 SVC service, although ATM allows
much higher throughput. Virtual circuits are created and released dynamically, providing user bandwidth
on demand. This service requires a signaling protocol between the router and the switch.
The ATM signaling software provides a method of dynamically establishing, maintaining, and clearing
ATM connections at the user-network interface (UNI). The ATM signaling software conforms to ATM
Forum UNI 3.0 or ATM Forum UNI 3.1, depending on what version is selected by interim local
management interface (ILMI) or configuration.
In UNI mode, the user is the router and the network is an ATM switch. This is an important distinction.
The Cisco router does not perform ATM-level call routing. Instead, the ATM switch does the ATM call
routing, and the router routes packets through the resulting circuit. The router performs as the user and
the LAN interconnection device at the end of the circuit, and the ATM switch performs as the network.
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
3
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
Classes of Service
ATM resources can be specified dynamically on a per-connection basis (per SVC). The ATM T3/E3
network module supports four classes of service:
• Constant Bit Rate (CBR): This class emulates circuit switching. CBR has the highest transport
priority, which is 0. CBR can be used for connections such as voice and video. This bandwidth is
characterized by peak cell rate (PCR).
• Variable Bit Rate (VBR): VBR is available in non-real-time (VBR-nrt) and real-time (VBR-rt). VBR
has the second highest transport priority, which is 1. VBR sends traffic at a rate that varies with time,
depending on the availability of user information.
• Available Bit Rate (ABR): ABR has the transport priority of 2. ABR provides rate-based flow
control and is aimed at data traffic.
• Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR): UBR has the transport priority of 3. UBR is a “best effort” class of
service that uses the unutilized bandwidth for a connection. Traffic categorized as UBR+ is
guaranteed a minimum line rate through the minimum cell rate (MCR) traffic parameter.
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
To configure the ATM T3/E3 network module, complete the following procedures:
• Configuring the Card Type, page 4
• Changing the Card Type, page 5
• Enabling the ATM Interface, page 7
• Configuring PVCs, page 7
Configuring the Card Type
To configure the ATM T3/E3 network module for T3 or E3 operation, perform the following tasks.
NoteThe ATM T3/E3 network module will not be operational until a card type is configured.
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. card type {t3 | e3} slot
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
4
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
DETAILED STEPS
Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
enable
Example:
Router> enable
Step 2
configure terminal
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3
card type {t3|e3} slot
Example:
Router(config)# card type t3 1
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
Enables privileged EXEC mode.
• Enter your password if prompted.
Enters global configuration mode.
Specifies T3 or E3 connectivity for the ATM T3/E3 network
module.
Changing the Card Type
To change the ATM T3/E3 network module for T3 or E3 operation, perform the following tasks:
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. no card type {t3 | e3}
4. card type {t3 | e3} slot
5. reload
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
5
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
DETAILED STEPS
Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
enable
Example:
Router> enable
Step 2
configure terminal
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3
no card type {t3 | e3}
Example:
Router(config)# no card type t3
Step 4
card type {t3 | e3} slot
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
Enables privileged EXEC mode.
• Enter your password if prompted.
Enters global configuration mode.
Optional. Removes any previously configured card type.
Specifies T3 or E3 connectivity for the ATM T3/E3 network
module.
Example:
Router(config)# card type t3 1
Step 5
reload
Example:
Router(config)# reload
NoteWhen changing from T3 card type to E3 card type make sure that the interface is configured for 34 Mbps
or less. This is the maximum bandwidth for an E3 connection.
Troubleshooting Tip
T3 interfaces support a maximum bandwidth of 44,209 kbps in ATM and 40,700 kbps in physical layer
convergence procedures (PLCP) mode. E3 interfaces support a maximum bandwidth of 33,920 kbps in
ATM and 30,528 kbps in PLCP mode.
If the total bandwidth used by an interface is greater than 34 Mbps and the card type is changed from T3
to E3, the traffic shaping characteristics of the VCs will be changed. The Cisco IOS software will
reconfigure the VCs so that the total allocated guaranteed bandwidth does not exceed the maximum
allowable E3 bandwidth.
Reloads the router so that changes can take affect.
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
6
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
Enabling the ATM Interface
To enable the ATM T3/E3 interface, perform the following tasks, starting in global configuration mode.
SUMMARY STEPS
1. interface ATM slot
2. atm clock internal
3. no shut down
DETAILED STEPS
Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
Step 2
interface ATM slot
Example:
Router(config)# interface ATM 1
atm clock internal
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
Enters interface configuration mode.
Mandatory if the ATM port the network module is
connected to is configured line. Optional otherwise.
Example:
Router(config-if)# atm clock internal
Step 3
no shutdown
Example:
Router(config)# no shutdown
Configuring PVCs
To use a PVC, you must configure the PVC into both the router and the ATM switch. PVCs remain active
until the circuit is removed from either configuration.
To configure a PVC, perform these tasks:
• Creating a PVC
• Mapping a Protocol Address to a PVC
• Configuring the AAL and Encapsulation Type
• Configuring PVC Traffic Parameters
• Setting PVC Watermarks, page 10
Specifies ATM clock source. Default source is line.
(Optional) Enables the ATM interface, thereby beginning
the segmentation and reassembly (SAR) operation on the
interface. The ATM interface is enabled by default.
Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T
7
How to Configure the ATM T3/E3 Network Module
Creating a PVC
To create a PVC on the ATM interface and enter interface-ATM-VC configuration mode, use the
following command, beginning in interface configuration mode:
Configures a new ATM PVC by assigning a name (optional)
and VPI/VCI values. Enters interface-ATM-VC
Example:
Router(config-if)# pvc cisco 0/16 ilmi
configuration mode. Optionally configures ILMI or QSAAL
encapsulation.
The range of values for vpi isfrom 0 to 255. The range of values for vci is from 1 to 65535.
Once you specify a name for a PVC, you can reenter the interface-ATM-VC configuration mode by
simply entering pvc name.
Mapping a Protocol Address to a PVC
Configuring the Cisco NM-1A-T3/E3 Network Module
The ATM interface supports a static mapping scheme that identifies the network addresses of remote
hosts or routers. This section describes how to map a PVC to an address, which is a required task for
configuring a PVC.
To map a protocol address to a PVC, use the following command in interface-ATM-VC configuration
mode: