Virtual Channels in ATM
Identified by a two-part number
- Path number
- Circuit number within that path
A physical port on a switch may have many paths
- A path may have many circuits
A switch may have thousands of VCs
- A VC table is used to map the connections which can be established either:
- Permanently: Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC)
- Temporarily: Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC)
- Deleted when the connection is not needed