Hands-On ATM Troubleshooting

Course Description

Voice, data, and video traffic over ATM networks creates tremendous cost efficiencies. If not properly configured and tested, however, the implementation can represent numerous headaches for network engineers and managers.

Learn to establish a structured and logical approach to troubleshooting and managing today's ATM networks using network management and troubleshooting tools from industry-leading vendors.

Students Will Learn

ATM Troubleshooting Basics
ATM Component Review
Permanent Virtual Connections
ATM Network Protocol Analyzers
ATM Traffic Testing and Troubleshooting
ATM Performance Testing and Troubleshooting
ATM Switched Virtual Connections
Soft Permanent Virtual Connections
PVP Tunneling
And More...

Target Audience

Anyone tasked with monitoring, administering, andor managing an ATM network, especially those working for product manufacturers, carriers, and service providers.

Prerequisites

Our ATM Essentials course

Course Outline

1. ATM Troubleshooting Overview

Identifying challenges
Troubleshooting arsenal
- Knowledge of the technology
- Recognizing symptoms and problems
- Knowledge of available tools
Testing vs. troubleshooting
ATM troubleshooting methodology
Basic approaches
- Déjā vu method
- Delta method
- Napoleonic method
- Sesame street method
Documentation
Problems unique to ATM testing and troubleshooting
ATM technology review

2. ATM Component Review

ATM protocol stack
- Physical layer
- Cell layer
- Cell header fields
- AAL layers
Traffic management concepts
- The traffic contract
- ATM cell layer service categories
- UNI signaling
  - SAAL
- NNI signaling: IISP and PNNI

3. Permanent Virtual Connections

PVC explanation
- Construction of a PVC
- Everything permanent?
- The road to nowhere and the road to everywhere
Testing PVCs
The basics of OAM cells
Circuit establishment troubleshooting

4. ATM Network Protocol Analyzers

Equipment categories
- Platform
- Line speed
Performance functions
- Configuration
- Monitoring
- Management
Access methods
- Break and insert
- Passive taps
- Port copying
- Circuit steering

5. ATM Traffic Testing and Troubleshooting

Traffic management concepts
- The UPC function
- The traffic contract
- QoS parameter definitions
- ATM traffic descriptors
- Generic cell rate algorithm
- Leaky bucket algorithm usage
Policing configuration options
- ATM cell layer service categories
- Congestion control
- Congestion recovery
- ABR flow control
ATM layer OAM
- Applicability example
- Cell formats
- Types and functions
- Loopback functions
AIS and RDI operation

6. ATM Performance Testing and Troubleshooting

ATM traffic descriptors
QoS parameter definitions
- Terminology and cell transfer outcomes
- Cell delay variation
- Cell loss ratio
- Cell transfer delay
- Cell error ratio and severely-errored cell block ratio
- Cell misinsertion rate
- QoS parameter definitions
- ATM layer service categories
Performance specifications and measurements
- OAM cells

7. ATM Switched Virtual Connections

Role of signaling
- Q.2931 signaling overview
- Message types
- Signaling ATM adaptation layer
- ATM end system address
- Integrated Local Management Interface (ILMI)
Lifecycle of a Switched Virtual Connection
- SSCOP: assured delivery
- Signaling capture process

8. Soft Permanent Virtual Connections

Soft PVC overview
Configuring soft PVCs
- Rerouting connections
- Physical layer
- Consistent switch-to-switch protocol
- Edge devices
- Ingress switch
- Egress switch

9. PVP Tunneling

PVP overview
Configuring customer edge into ASP tunnel
Configuring ASP tunnel switches
Configuring customer edge into and out of ASP tunnel
Troubleshooting considerations

10. LAN Emulation (LANE)

LANE overview
LAN common denominator
- Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
Emulating a LAN over ATM
LANE client
Broadcast and unknown server
LANE server
- LECS
LANE virtual channel connections
- Flush protocol
- Configure the LEC
- Configure the LECS
- Configure the LES/BUS
LANE troubleshooting
- LANE services

Hands-on Course Labs

Hands-On Lab 1: Setting up a Network

Set up and use ATM equipment and network cable connections, and establish basic network connectivity.

Hands-On Lab 2: Constructing PVCs

Build PVCs necessary for bi-directional connectivity on an assigned logical interface, troubleshoot PVCs and send traffic over PVC connections.

Hands-On Lab 3: PVC Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot bi-directional connectivity between UNIX workstations via PVCs; isolate and correct various problems with your assigned PVC network.

Hands-On Lab 4: Using the ATM Analyzer

Learn the setup of the analyzer and its operations relating to physical layer reporting, connect analyzers to an network UNI interface in full duplex mode, and monitor physical layer (SONET and ATM) statistics using WinPharoah for ATM.

Hands-On Lab 5: Capturing and Decoding Traffic

Use basic VP/VC monitoring and capture/decode operations of the network analyzer, and monitor video traffic to determine traffic rate, AAL type, VPI value, and VCI value. Capture and decode traffic for analysis.

Hands-On Lab 6: Traffic-Based Policing

Define traffic policies, test a PVC, configure UPC parameters on an ingress switch, and test results after changing UPC parameters.

Hands-On Lab 7: Traffic Shaping

Initiate traffic shaping at edge devices, configure traffic shaping at a UNIX workstation, and reconfigure UPC parameters in ATM switches to allow for additional connections.

Hands-On Lab 8: QoS Testing with Analyzer

Initialize the analyzer, run internal loopback functions, select transmit options, and insert error connections.

Hands-On Lab 9: Capturing SVC Signaling

Perform a capture and decode of steady state signaling conditions and call-initiated signaling.

Hands-On Lab 10: Troubleshooting SVCs

Use skills developed in lab 8 to troubleshoot an SVC connection request using an ATM analyzer, and capture and decode signaling messages to identify SVC creation problems.

Hands-On Lab 11: Constructing SPVCCs

Convert the PVC built in lab 2 to an SPVCC, and configure your ingress to activate the SPVCC. Break the primary link and determine if the connection is maintained via the backup link.

Hands-On Lab 12: SPVCC Troubleshooting

Use skills developed in lab 10 to isolate, analyze, and correct an ATM network problem associated with SPVCCs.

Hands-On Lab 13: Configuring PVP Tunnels

Configure unique VPTs, configure a VCC switch table to convert VPI cell flows, configure a PVC switching table based on VPI values, and create a PVC cell flow at the edge of the network using a VPV tunnel approach.

Hands-On Lab 14: PVP Troubleshooting

Use skills developed in lab 12 to isolate and correct various problems with your unique network tunnel.

Hands-On Lab 15: LAN Emulation

Configure and enable a LANE configuration server, a broadcast and unknown server. Enable and establish connectivity between two LAN clients.

Hands-On Lab 16: LANE Troubleshooting

Use skills developed in lab 14 to isolate and correct various problems with your unique LANE environments.

Hands-On Lab 17: Solving Real-World ATM Problems

Read the problem log from the previous shift, collect data, and analyze and isolate the problem.

Delivery Method

Instructor-Led with numerous Hands-On Labs and exercises.

Equipment Requirements
(This apply's to our hands-on courses only)

BTS always provides equipment to have a very successful Hands-On course. BTS also encourages all attendees to bring their own equipment to the course. This will provide attendees the opportunity to incorporate their own gear into the labs and gain valuable training using their specific equipment.

Course Length

3 Days