A network switch

A network having at least one emulated local area network (LAN) therein includes groups of legacy LAN workstations, network switches and an ATM switch. The network switches are each connectable to one of the groups of the legacy LAN workstations. The ATM switch is connectable to the network switches and each network switch includes a cell memory, a cell memory manager, local switching apparatus and remote switching apparatus. The cell memory stores cells of data. The cell memory manager converts data back and forth between a format and a cell format, stores the cell format data in the cell memory and retrieves calls therefrom. The local switching apparatus locally switches cells of data among the group of legacy LAN workstations connectable to the network switch. The remote switching apparatus switches the cells of data from the network switch to a remote network switch via the ATM switch.