2. 2
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Frame Relay Terminology .........................................................................................................................4
Designing Frame Relay Using Cloud ........................................................................................................5
Pre-requisite:...........................................................................................................................................5
STEP 1: Design a Network.....................................................................................................................5
STEP 2: Assign DLCI (Datalink Connection Identifier) number for every end point(Router) on
the Cloud..................................................................................................................................................6
STEP 3: Assign IP address to all sub-interfaces on Router also enabling frame relay
encapsulation for each............................................................................................................................8
STEP 4: Check the frame relay configuration on all Routers ..........................................................10
STEP 5: Ping host of different network..............................................................................................11
References & Links...................................................................................................................................12
3. 3
Introduction
What is Frame Relay?
Frame Relay is a protocol standard for WAN internetworking which provides a fast and
efficient method of transmitting packets through the network. Frame Relay offers an
attractive alternative to both dedicated lines and X.25 networks for WAN links.
It is data link layer packet-switching protocol that uses digital circuits. Frame Relay
connections use logical circuits to make connections between multiple sites these logical
circuits are referred to as Virtual Circuits (VCs).
Leased lines also provide longer connectivity but a physical circuit is used to make
connection between multiple sites and the same circuit path is used always also multiple
virtual circuits can exist on the same physical connection.
Advantage of Frame Relay:
Virtual circuits consume bandwidth only when they transport data. Consequently, many
virtual circuits can exist across a given transmission line, which is an improvement
compared to dedicated leased lines. In addition, each device can use more than the
allowed bandwidth as necessary, and thus operate at higher speeds.
The increased error-handling sophistication at end stations (Routers) and the improved
reliability of communication lines allows the Frame Relay protocol to discard bad frames
and thus eliminate time-consuming error-handling processing.
A single serial interface of a router is needed to handle the Virtual Circuits connections to
multiple sites whereas using leased lines multiple serial interfaces are needed to connect
to multiple sites.
Virtual Circuits provide full connectivity at a much lower price compared to leased lines.
4. 4
Frame Relay Terminology
Sub Interfaces: Frame Relay sub interfaces provide a mechanism for supporting partially
meshed Frame Relay networks. Most protocols assume transitivity on a logical network;
that is, if station A can talk to station B, and station B can talk to station C, then station A
should be able to talk to station C directly. Transitivity is true on LANs, but not on Frame
Relay networks unless A is directly connected to C.
Used Shared Bandwidth: Frame Relay Used Shared Bandwidth is that many users share
the network. For example: If one subscriber is not using its share of the bandwidth, that
share is available for another subscriber to use. The data rate is more flexible. Instead of
one fixed rate, bursts are allowed if the network has available capacity.
Local Management Interface: Local Management Interface (LMI) is a signaling
standard used between routers and frame relay switches. Communication takes place
between a router and the first frame relay switch it's connected to. Information about
keeps alive, global addressing, IP Multicast and the status of virtual circuits is commonly
exchanged using LMI.
Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI): A number of a Private Virtual Circuit (PVC)
or Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) in a Frame Relay network that tells the Frame Relay
how to route the data. The DLCI field identifies which logical circuit the data travels
over.
5. 5
Designing Frame Relay Using Cloud
Pre-requisite:
We will be using Cisco Packet Tracer to setup a frame relay network.
The infrastructure will include router, cloud and multiple switch and host(PC)
STEP 1: Design a Network
6. 6
STEP 2: Assign DLCI (Datalink Connection Identifier) number for every end
point(Router) on the Cloud.
Note: Cloud is a collection of frame relay switches basically managed by ISP
Serial 0:
Serial 1:
8. 8
STEP 3: Assign IP address to all sub-interfaces on Router also enabling frame relay
encapsulation for each
Assigning IP address to host which can be done manually by going to IP configurations on
host(PC)
Assign IP address to all the interfaces including sub-interfaces of Routers.
Assigning IP to Fast Ethernet interfaces:
Router>enable
Router#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#interface fa0/0
Router(config-if)#ip add 192.168.2.2 255.0.0.0
Router(config-if)#exit
Assigning IP to All sub-interfaces:
Router 0:
10. 10
STEP 4: Check the frame relay configuration on all Routers
Router 0:
Router>show frame-relay map
Serial2/0.102 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 102, broadcast, status defined, active
Serial2/0.103 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 103, broadcast, status defined, active
Router 1:
Router>show frame-relay map
Serial2/0.201 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 201, broadcast, status defined, active
Serial2/0.203 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 203, broadcast, status defined, active
Router 2:
Router>show frame-relay map
Serial2/0.301 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 301, broadcast, status defined, active
Serial2/0.302 (up): point-to-point dlci, dlci 302, broadcast, status defined, active
11. 11
STEP 5: Ping host of different network.
Hence if the host is able to ping to the host on other network than it means that the Frame
Relay network is successfully configured.
Note: This folder includes pkt file you can to refer it if any queries.
12. 12
References & Links
Frame Relay - Introduction and Concepts - Part 1
Configure Frame Relay for the Cisco CCNA - Part 2
Configure Frame Relay for the Cisco CCNA - Part 3
Configure Frame Relay for the Cisco CCNA - Part 4
Configure Frame Relay for the Cisco CCNA - Part 5
Configure Frame Relay for the Cisco CCNA - Part 6
Frame Relay configuration - WAN cloud
Frame Relay Explained
