How to Configure ATM Permanent Virtual Circuits

This fax will cover software requirements and configuration of ATM permanent virtual circuits (PVC) on AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.4, and 4.2.

Current adapters supported by IBM are as follows:
MCA Turboways 100 ATM adapter - AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.4, and 4.2.0
MCA Turboways 155 ATM adapter - AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.4, and 4.2.0
MCA Turboways 155 ATM UTP/STP adapter - AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.5, 4.2.0
PCI Turboways 25 ATM UTP/STP adapter - AIX 4.2.1 (FC 2998)
PCI Turboways 155 ATM adapter - AIX 4.2.1 (FC 2988)

AIX Version 3.2.5: Drivers are installed via PTF U438028 for the Turboways 100 adapter and U443303 for the Turboways 155 and Turboways UTP/STP adapter.

ATM support at AIX version 4.x is installed via the following filesets:

MCA Turboways 155 ATM software:
devices.mca.8f67.com
devices.mca.8f67.rte
devices.mca.8f67.ucode
devices.mca.8f67.diag (4.1.5 and 4.2.x)
devices.common.IBM.atm.rte (4.2.x)

MCA Turboways 155 ATM UTP/STP software: (4.1.5, and 4.2.x)
devices.mca.8f64.diag
devices.mca.8f64.rte
devices.common.IBM.atm.rte (4.2.x)

MCA Turboways 100 ATM software:
devices.mca.8f7f.rte
devices.mca.8f7f.ucode
devices.mca.8f7f.com
devices.mca.8f7f.diag (4.1.5 and 4.2.x)
devices.common.IBM.atm.rte (4.2.x)

PCI Turboways 25 STM UTP/STP software:
devices.pci.14105300.rte
devices.pci.14105300.diag

PCI Turboways 155 ATM software:
devices.pci.14107c00.rte
devices.pci.14107c00.diag
devices.pci.14107c00.com

ATM is not supported from AIX Version 4.1.1 through 4.1.3

PVCs can be configured in a back-to-back ATM network between two systems, or as a point-to-point connection to a switch.

It is EXTREMELY important in a back-to-back ATM 155 Mbs network that one node provide sonet clocking. This is not an issue in an ATM 100 Mbs network. To provide sonet clocking execute the following:

1. smit fastpath chg_atm
2. select the ATM adapter that is being configured in a back-to-back network.
3. At the very bottom of the smit screen, set Provide SONET clock to 1.

Note: It is only necessary to do this on one node of the back to back ATM 155 Mbs network.

If you get a "device busy" message, make sure all ATM IP interfaces are detached and/or removed and ATM LAN emulation clients are defined and/or removed.

The first step is to configure the IP interface for the PVC:

Execute the following commands:

1. AIX Version 4.x IP Interface Configuration (smit mkinetat), execute as follows:

    
    * INTERNET ADDRESS (dotted decimal)                  (1.1.1.1) 
      Network MASK (hexadecimal or dotted decimal)       (255.255.255.0) 
      Network Interface                                  (at0) 
      Connection Type                                     pvc 
      ATM Server Address                                 () 
      Alternate Device                                   (atm0) 
      Idle Timer                                         () 
      Best Effort Bit Rate (UBR) in Kbits/sec            () 
    * ACTIVATE the Interface after Creating it?          yes 
   

2. AIX Version 4.x PVC Configuration (smit mkatmpvc), execute as follows:

    
     PVC Description (Optional)                            () 
   * VPI:VCI                                         (0:1000) 
     Network Interface                                     (at0) 
     Destination IP Address                                () 
     Automatically Discover Destination IP Address         yes 
     LLC Encapsulation                                     yes 
   

   Note: Alternatively, you may change Automatically Discover Destination IP Adress to "no" and set the Destination IP address of the node you are connecting to in a back-to-back network or the switch PVC.

3. AIX Version 3.2.5 IP Interface Configuration (smit mkinetat), execute the following:

    
      Device Name                                         atm1aio0 
      Network Interface                                   at0 
      INTERNET ADDRESS (dotted decimal)                   (1.1.1.1) 
      Network MASK (hexadecimal or dotted decimal)        (255.255.255.0) 
      ACTIVATE the Interface after Creating it?           yes 
      Enable Hardware LOOPBACK Mode?                      no 
      Enable SVCs                                         no 
      Is this an ARP server?                              no 
      If this is an ARP client 
         ARP Server ATM Address (dotted hexadecimal)      () 
   

4. AIX Version 3.2.5 PVC Configuration (smit mkpvcat), execute the following:

    
   * ATM Network Interface                                at0 
     PVC Description (Optional)                           () 
   * VPI:VCI                                              (0:1000) 
   * LLC Encapsulation                                    yes 
     If LLC Encapsulation 
       Automatically Discover Destination IP Address      yes 
     If No Automatic Destination Discovery 
       Destination IP Address (dotted decimal)            () 
   

   Note: Alternatively, you may change Automatically Discover Destination IP Adress to "no" and set the Destination IP address of the node you are connecting to in a back-to-back network or the switch PVC.

1. Verify you are using the correct VPI:VCI
2. If this is a PVC to a switch, check to make sure there is a proper connection to the ATM switch. This is usually indicated by a port light on the ATM switch. Look for wire fault errors in the error log with the "errpt |grep atm" command to identify cable problems. If the SC connectors on your fiber cables are not keyed or connected with a plastic cover, you may want to try to reverse the connectors on one end of the connection. Many problems occur when the switch is incorrectly configured. If no one can ping on the switch and you have double checked the configuration on AIX, please contact the switch administrator to verify the configuration.
3. A migration of an AIX Version 3.2.5 system with the ATM support PTF installed to an AIX 4.1.4 system currently shows problems removing the old ATM software. Please contact support for this solution.
4. Problems of intermittent communications loss or inability to ping on reboot are often caused by defects.