Pre-Requisites:
Sound English Language Proficiency
(The Queen’s English)
Engineering Maths I, II, III, IV, V
Electronics I II III (Analogue Electronics)
Digital Electronics,
Circuit Theory
Field Theory
Communication Electronics,
Analogue Communications Systems ,
Digital Communications Systems,
Antennas & Propagation of Radio Waves,
DSP,
Electromagnetic Wave Theory,
Microwave Devices,
Etc. Academic excellence in ICT
2
Education
CHAPTER 6
FRAME RELAY
INTRODUCTION
6.1 Frame Relay Background.
6.2 Frame Relay Protocols and Service
6.3 Frame-mode Protocol Architecture
6.4 Frame-mode Call Control
INTRODUCTION
Frame Relay is a high-performance WAN
protocol that operates at the physical and data
link layers of the OSI reference model.
Frame Relay originally was designed for use across
ISDN interfaces.
Today, it is used over a variety of other network
interfaces as well.
Frame Relay is an example of a packet-switched
technology.
What is Frame Relay Service?
Frame Relay Is A Telecom Digital
Connection-oriented Data Service
That Sends Packets Of Data, Called Frames, Over
Networks.
Frame Of Data Is Tx’tted Thr’ The
Network &
Checked For Errors.
Frame Relay is designed for cost-efficient data
Tx for intermittent traffic
B/n LAN – to - LAN &
B/n End-points in a WAN.
It's A Data Network Service Bundled With Leased Line
Access
For Tx’tting Data B/n Remote Networks.
FR Puts Data In A Variable-size Unit
Called A Frame
Leaves Any Necessary Error Correction (Retx’ssion Of Data)
Up To The End-points,
This Speeds Up Overall Data Tx.
FRAME RELAY BACKGROUND
Frame Relay Is A Protocol Standard For LAN
Internetworking:
Provides A Fast & Efficient Method Of Tx’tting Info From A
User Device To LAN Bridges & Routers.
FR Protocol Uses A Frame Structured Similar To That
Of LAPD,
Except That The Frame Header Is Replaced By A 2-byte
Frame Relay Header Field.
Header Contains The User-specified DLCI Field,
Destination Address Of The Frame.
Further Contains Congestion &
Status Signals Which The Network
Sends To The User.
FR Defines How Frames Are Routed Thro’ A
Fast-packet Network:
Based On The Address Field In The Frame.
Why was Frame Relay Developed?
• The need for high speed and high performance
Data Tx.
• Cost-effective use of widespread digital facilities
• Inexpensive processing power found in end user devices.
• The change from primarily text to graphics interaction
• The increase in “Bursty" traffic apps
• Intelligent end-user devices (PCs, workstations, Etc)
With Increased Computing Power
The proliferation of LANs and Client/server Computing
• Widespread Digital Networks
Frame Relay Origins
FR is a stripped-down version of the
X.25 protocol,
Free From The Error-correcting Burden
Most Commonly Associated With X.25
Upon Detecting An Error,
FR Simply Drops The Offending Packet.
Uses The Concept Of Shared-access &
Relies On A Technique Referred To As
"Best-effort’ To Send Packets Of Data.
Frame Relay Technology Basics
FR Provides A Packet-switching Data
Communications Capability:
That Is Used Across The Interface B/n User Devices (E.g., Routers, Bridges,
Host Machines) &
Network Equipment (E.g., Switching Nodes).
User devices are referred to as:
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)
Network equipment that interfaces to DTE is often
referred to as:
Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (DCE).
The network providing the
FR interface can be either:
A Carrier-provided Public Network Or
A Network Of Privately Owned Equipment Serving A
Single Enterprise.
As an interface to a network, FR is the
same type of protocol as X.25.
Frame Relay Protocol Architecture
A very simple protocol stack for frame relay.
Only one and a half layers of the OSI Model are
used.
How Does Frame Relay Work?
FR Is A Digital Packet Network Service
Provides All The Features & Benefits Of A Dedicated
Network Service Without The Expense Of Multiple
Dedicated Circuits.
This data is carried in the form of packets and
given an ID on a per packet basis.
It is then sent across the network in a very efficient way.
• Information is sent over the WAN using a Data
Link Connection Identifier (DLCI), which
specifies the frame's destination
• The network discards the frames if there is a problem
due to line errors or congestion
• Error correction and lost frames are retransmitted by
the end user hardware devices at higher level protocols
than the frame cloud
• Good performances are achieved by low error rates
Frame Relay Devices
• Devices attached to a Frame Relay WAN
fall into two general categories:
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)
Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (DCE)
• DTEs Are Customer-owned Devices
• DCEs are carrier-owned internetworking
devices.
• Purpose of DCE equipment:
To provide clocking
Switching services in a network, WAN.
Relationship B/n The 2 Categories Of Devices
Frame Relay Access Device (FRAD)
FRAD Or FR Assembler/Dis-assembler)
Turns Data Packets Into Frames
That Can Be Sent Over FR Network &
Re-converts The Rx’d Frames Into Data
Packets.
Its Assembly/Disassembly Functionality:
Is Similar To A PAD/Packet Assembler/Dis-
assembler,
Used For Accessing X.25 Networks.
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Frame Relay Network
A FR network consists of endpoints e.g.,
PCs,
Servers,
Host Computers,
FR Access equipment (e.g., Bridges, Routers, Hosts,
FR Access Devices)
Network devices
E.g., Switches, Network Routers, T1/E1
Multiplexers, De-multiplexers, Etc.
Frame Relay Network
The FR Access Equipment Is Responsible For:
• Delivering Frames To The Network In The Prescribed
Format.
• Switching Or Routing Frames Thr’ The Network:
To The Proper Destination User Devices.
A FR Network Is Represented As A
Network Cloud, Since:
• FR Network Is Not A Single Physical
Connection B/n One Endpoint & The Other.
Instead, A Logical Path Is Defined Within The
Network.
This Logical Path Is Called A Virtual Circuit.
Frame Relay Applications
FR Was Developed To Provide Solutions To
Several Trends In Networks, Including;
The Need To Change From Text To Graphic
Increase In "Bursty" Traffic
End-user devices become more sophisticated (PCs,
Workstations, Routers & WAN devices)
Sophisticated operating systems (Windows, Solaris, Novell
OS, etc.)
LAN environments
Widespread digital networks
Voice, video & data integration
Advantages of Frame Relay
The main advantage of FR over point-to-point
leased lines is cost.
FR can provide performance similar to that of a
leased line, but with significantly less cost over
long distances.
FR offers an attractive alternative to both
dedicated lines and X.25 networks for connecting
LANs to bridges and routers.
Disadvantages of FR
The Two Main Disadvantages Of FR Are:
- Slow Downs Due To Network Congestion
- Difficulty Ensuring Quality Of Service (QoS)
Since FR Customers Use A Common Network
There Can Be Times When Data Tx’ssion Exceeds Network Capacity.
Since FR Uses Variable-length Packets Ensuring QoS is Hard.
Easier To Guarantee QoS When Using A Fixed-length Packet.
END OF
CHAPTER 6
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Education 27
ASSIGNMENT 1
WITH THE AID OF APPROPRIATE DIAGRAMS
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PACKET SWITCHING
AND CIRCUIT SWITCHING
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