Abstract: A method, system, and system components to control and manage a cell-based network including cell-based switches connected by communications links for transporting cells of data between the switches. A management and control request directed to one of the switches in the network is diverted to a network manager. The network manager processes the request according to management and control procedures at the network manager to identify generic commands to transmit to one or more switches in the network. The generic commands are interpreted at each of the one or more switches to produce a respective instruction to direct operation of each of the one or more switches.

Abstract: An application-based circuit steering apparatus and method for redirecting cells within a cell-based network. The circuit steering apparatus includes a data input port configured to receive a packet including one or more cells containing data for an application to be communicated via the network, a monitor configured to sample one or more initial cells of the packet to determine application information relating to the application, and a redirection unit for diverting cells of the packet from a predetermined path within the network to an alternate path within the network based on the application information.