BKUNDATM.RVW   961012
 
"Understanding ATM", Stan Schatt, 1996, 0-07-057679-3, C$65.95
%A   Stan Schatt
%C   300 Water Street, Whitby, Ontario   L1N 9B6
%D   1996
%G   0-07-057679-3
%I   McGraw-Hill Ryerson/Osborne
%O   C$65.95 905-430-5000 800-565-5758 fax: 905-430-5020 louisea@McGrawHill.ca
%P   239
%T   "Understanding ATM"
 
Recently I was dealing with a small company that was bringing Internet service
inhouse for the first time.  To my certain knowledge, the person in charge of
the project had not done enough research on the matter of service providers. 
When I asked him about his certainty that his choice of ISP was the one to go
with, he replied, with the air of one who knows his argument is unbeatable,
that the chosen ISP was the only one that used ATM (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode).  ATM has very decided advantages, but primarily for those managing very
large, diverse networks, with mixed data, voice, and even video traffic.  A
company in a single office, with no interest in amalgamating its existing low
traffic Ethernet and simple PBX, and merely wanting to add email and a Web site
to its operations, is a poor candidate for ATM.
 
All of which is by way of saying that while ATM is currently a powerful
buzzword, it is one that is exceedingly poorly understood.  Therefore, Schatt's
book is very welcome, as the first explanation I've found that deals with the
realities of the technology at a level that doesn't require an engineering
background.  The author first deals with the basics of networks, and the
collapse of backbone cables into hubs and switches.  He then gives a thorough
background overview of the concepts and functions of ATM and related
technologies, without needing to show off a bit level knowledge of framing and
packets.  There is also very good coverage of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital
Network), which is closely related to ATM use in WANs (Wide Area Networks) and
sometimes gets confused with ATM itself.
 
The second half of the book is equally practical, containing an overview of
product lines and strategies from major ATM vendors.  Each section ends with a
very useful "Should [this company] Be Your ATM Vendor?" piece, which analyses
the strengths and weaknesses in respect to your existing equipment and
requirements.
 
Schatt could have included some introduction on who is *not* likely to need ATM
service.  Nevertheless, this is my current recommendation for those who are not
already telephone engineers but need to know what the hoopla is about.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKUNDATM.RVW   961012

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