Why Frame Relay?
Frame Relay (FR) has quietly become known as the most efficient and cost-effective way to link remote sites together on a corporate network. FR has done so without the incredible hype that has surrounded the more high-profile technology known as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). CTR's report, Evaluating Frame Relay Technology for Your Organization, discusses the background, development, and functioning of FR and explains how FR fits into a corporate networking environment.
The report includes extensive information on new FR features such as international availability and the complicated new issue of tariffing FR services. The report analyzes the use of FR for voice and videoconferencing -- two applications of great interest to corporate information systems (IS) managers. FR network design, implementation, and management issues are reviewed in detail.
The report compares FR with other established and emerging technologies such as the Internet, private TCP/IP router networks, high-speed SONET leased lines, ATM, and SMDS.
FR is considered by many to be the first international standard for data communications. In fact, FR is quickly becoming known as the best way to build international networks of any kind, from SNA to TCP/IP. Other mature and well-known international standards have had real problems when implemented across national borders, especially from the United States to Europe. The report explains why FR is a corporate network solution that has the potential to offer great cost savings, reliability, and efficiency to organizations worldwide.
How Does Frame Relay Work?
FR technology is not new; the report explains how FR developed and explores FR's roots in the X.25 public packet switched data network standard. The chapter traces the changes to local area networks (LANs), SNA networks, bridging, and routing that have made FR an attractive choice for internetworking today.
The report describes how the components of a FR network must work together. Key concepts such as PVCs and SVCs as they apply to users of FR services are detailed. The CIR and over-subscription -- two other major FR concepts -- are also discussed.
The report takes an in-depth look at the use of FR for SNA networks. Special attention is paid to IBM support for FR in the IBM SNA product family. The future of SNA is briefly discussed, and integrating LAN and SNA traffic over a FR network is explored.
The report also evaluates the use of FR as a possible transport vehicle for corporate voice and video applications. Although FR began as a data-only service, the need for businesses to support multimedia on the same network is real and immediate. This chapter explores the use of FR for voice, video, and data services ("broadband" services) and discusses several product offerings for making this possible.
Dealing with Frame Relay Service Providers
Evaluating Frame Relay Technology for Your Organization positions FR as a public network service, in contrast to the recent practice of building private corporate networks. The short- and long-term benefits of FR networks are examined.
The report deals with the connection of customer premise equipment to FR networks and evaluates the primary FR service providers. Possible speeds and technologies for linking the service provider's FR network are discussed. The FR switch-to-switch interface is explored, and the Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) is introduced to cover the situation where several FR network services must be linked over long distances.
The report provides a case study of a company which replaces a leased-line private network with a FR public service offering. Project goals are detailed in addition to a step-by-step analysis of the network design, pilot, and CIR choices.
Frame Relay Network Management
Evaluating Frame Relay Technology for Your Organization addresses the crucial role of network management in a FR network. Because FR networks are essentially public data services, organizations accustomed to managing their own leased-line networks must adjust to the public nature of FR. This chapter deals with these issues and the use of the simple network management protocol (SNMP) as the common ground for private and public FR network management.
The report provides a series of checklists which can be used to determine if FR is the correct solution for a corporate network. The lists will help to evaluate carrier FR services and measure the progress of FR network installation.
