Network Processors

CHAPTER 3 Converged Networks

In the previous chapter we described basic networking, which includes everything from concepts to data networks (e.g., Ethernet and Internet Protocol networks) and telecommunications networks (e.g., PDH and SDH/ONET networks).

This chapter focuses on converged networks. In these networks, data and telecommunications applications interface and mix, despite their very different natures. Data networks are bursty, and oriented toward connectionless traffic, whereas telecommunications networks are streamed, and connection-oriented. We divide this chapter into two parts, each of which corresponds to a particular path of evolution: the first, from telecom networks to converged networks, and the second from data networks ...