Introduction to Frame Relay Siemens

Introduction to Frame Relay

Contents
1 What is Frame Relay? 3
2 Frame Relay Networks 7
3 Reasons for Frame Relay 13
4 Advantages of Frame Relay 19
5 Exercises 25
6 Solutions 35

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1 What is Frame Relay?

Frame
Relay?

Fig. 1

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Definition
Frame Relay is an extremely fast communications technology used globally in
numerous communications networks. It is principally used for LAN, SNA and Internet
connections as well as for voice applications.

Information flow
Fundamentally, in Frame Relay applications the information sent through a wide area
network is divided into frames or packets. Each frame is given an address used by
the network to find the path to the frame's destination. The frames are transmitted
through the switches in the Frame Relay Network to reach their destination.

Fast packet switching

Frame Relay uses a simple, but fast, form of packet switching. In this way, it is
particularly suitable for intelligent terminal equipment – such as PCs, workstations
and servers, which in turn communicate with each other by means of intelligent
protocols like SNA or TCP/IP. In this way, error correction can be transposed to the
terminal equipment.
The Frame Relay switches themselves only perform error detection and discard
faulty frames. The Frame Relay nodes should be connected to each other with lines
with a high quality of service in order to keep down the error rate.

Summary
Viewed overall Frame Relay provides a high rate of data throughput and great
operational reliability with low delay times, and is therefore particularly suitable for a
wide variety of contemporary business applications.

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PVC
PC PVC

Port PVC
CPE
SVC
UNI
SVC
Controller
Router ISDN nailed-up connection
Bridge or
FRAD ISDN dial-up connection
MUX or
PBX Switch direct connection
(V.35, E1, RS232)

Video

Desktop & LAN Network access Frame Relay

Network
Formats Statistical
packets multiplexing
in frames

UNI User Network Interface

CPE Customer Premises Equipment
PVC Permanent Virtual Connection
SVC Switched Virtual Connection
FRAD Frame Relay Access Device
PBX Private Branch Exchange
Fig. 2

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2 Frame Relay Networks

FR-Network FR-Network

FR-Network

Fig. 3

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Network elements
A Frame Relay Network consists of terminal equipment (for example, PCs, servers,
host computers), Frame Relay access nodes (for example, bridges, routers, hosts,
Frame Relay Access Devices – FRAD) and network nodes (for example, Frame
Relay switches, network routers).
A Frame Relay access node is responsible for sending frames in the specified format
for accesses to the network via a standard Frame Relay interface. The function of the
network nodes is to switch or route frames through the network to the correct
destination terminal device.

Virtual circuit
A Frame Relay Network is often represented as a cloud. The reason for this is that a
Frame Relay Network does not consist of individual physical connections between
Frame Relay end points. Instead, logical paths are defined between end points. A
logical path of this kind is known as a virtual circuit.
A virtual circuit is not assigned a fixed bandwidth. Bandwidth is not made available to
the circuit for transporting a frame until the frame is to be sent via that circuit. In this
way, many virtual circuits can be accommodated in a physical connection. The virtual
circuits share the bandwidth of the physical connection (this is the principle of
statistical multiplexing).

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B
R
FR-Network

FRAD
R

Virtual circuit

R Router

B Bridge

Frame relay network node

Fig. 4

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User-to-Network Interface (UNI)

Frame relay customer premises equipment (network access node) is connected to
the Frame Relay network via a user-to-network interface (UNI). The physical access
channel can be dedicated or also set up as a dial-up connection (e.g., by ISDN).
The signaling and management functions for the UNI are specified in the relevant
recommendations (ITU-T X.36, FRF 1.1, FRF.4).

Network-to-Network Interface (NNI)

The network-to-network interface (NNI) connects two network nodes belonging to
different Frame Relay networks.
The signaling and management functions for the NNI are specified in the relevant
recommendations (ITU-T X.76, FRF 2.1,FRF.10).

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Frame relay
network

UNI

CPE

FR network access node

or
FR customer premises equipment FR network node

Fig. 5

Frame relay
network
Frame relay
network

Port Port
NNI

FR network node FR network node

Fig. 6

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3 Reasons for Frame Relay

~ 1990
New trends
in data networks

Frame
Relay

Fig. 7

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General
Frame Relay met with great acceptance from the very beginning because the market
exhibited a distinct demand for a fast data transmission technology with a high rate of
throughput. The Frame Relay technology uses powerful end devices and digital
networks with high grades of service that were already available relatively
inexpensively at the time of the introduction of the technology. Consequently, Frame
Relay was the right technology at the right time.
At the end of the 1980’s there were a number of new trends, which when viewed as a
whole led to the increase in demand for fast data transmission across wide area
networks.

Transition from pure text applications to graphical applications

Increase in the number of applications producing bursty traffic

Intelligent terminal equipment (PCs, workstations, X-Windows terminals) with
improved computing performance are already available at low cost

More widespread implementation of LAN and client/server applications

Broad availability of digital networks.

Greater demand for bandwidth

Storage and retrieval of graphics for interactive applications is as common today as
the swapping of entire pages of text was in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Users used to
working from an early stage with graphical applications in local networks also of
course expect similarly fast response times from wide area networks.
As the bandwidth requirements for transfer of graphics are considerably greater than
for text transfers, increased bandwidth and data throughput became urgently needed,
particularly where fast response times were demanded.

Dynamic bandwidth requirements

Applications running via LAN typically require large amounts of bandwidth for very
short periods. This type of traffic – known as bursty traffic – is particularly suitable for
statistical multiplexing on common physical lines, and is also characteristic of Frame
Relay.

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• Transition from pure text applications to

graphical applications

• Increase in the number of applications

producing bursty traffic

• Intelligent terminal equipment (PCs, workstations,

X-Windows terminals) with improved computing
performance are already available at low cost

• More widespread implementation of LAN

and client/server applications

• Broad availability of digital networks

Fig. 8

Kb

SDLC
LAN
t (sec)
Voice
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

Fig. 9

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Intelligent terminal equipment

The performance of terminal equipment developed along with the changes in network
requirements. Falling costs of computing performance led to widespread installation
of powerful PCs, workstations and servers that in turn were interconnected by LAN.
These new terminal devices also allowed complex data communication protocols to
be processed. In other words, the resource-consuming processes for error detection
and correction were able to be relocated from data communication networks to the
terminal devices. This was a further development in the application of fast packet-
switching methods such as Frame Relay.
By relieving networks of their error handling processes, Frame Relay provides
considerably greater data throughput rates than with conventional packet-switching
methods such as X.25.

Greater performance
The increased use of local networks and the Internet protocol produced a greater
demand for the interconnection of the LANs by wide area networks.
Initially, attempts were made to intermesh LAN bridges and routers directly with each
other with dedicated lines. This could be done provided the networks were small and
simply designed. However, with increasing size and complexity of the networks, the
disadvantages of this connection methods became evident, namely:

Greater transmission costs

Low level of operating reliability

Limited network management options

Restricted diagnostic options in the event of errors.
It quickly became clear that the alternative approach of interconnecting LANs in a
reliable, manageable wide area network offered distinct advantages:

Less overhead than IP

Frame relay switching is easy to implement

IP switching is rarely available in public WANs

IP routing produces delays and requires additional bandwidth.

Digital transmission networks

The conversion of the public telecommunications infrastructure from analog to digital
lines meant greater availability of bandwidth and lower error rates. The error
correction mechanisms used by X.25 and SNA (which are particularly suited to
handling fault-susceptible analog line) were no longer necessary in wide area
networks.

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Terminal Workstation
R R R
R

R R R
R

R
R
R R
Intermeshed network Frame relay network

Analog networks Digital networks

Fig. 10

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4 Advantages of Frame Relay

Fig. 11

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General
The success of a new technology often depends on the economic reasons that
support the introduction of the technology. Since its introduction, users of Frame
Relay have enjoyed a number of advantages over alternative technologies:

Low procurement and operating costs

Introduced, implemented standards that guarantee an open architecture and allow
simple implementation

Little overhead combined with great operating reliability

Scalability and flexibility

Interworking with new services and applications such as ATM.

Procurement and operating costs

Unlike its competitor technologies, the costs of Frame Relay are low for the following
reasons:

Frame Relay supports many different applications, such as TCP/IP, NetBIOS and
SNA as well as voice. All of these applications can use Frame Relay to share the
bandwidth of a single line.

Multiple users can be introduced to the Frame Relay network via a single network
access node (gateway). The bandwidth available on the line is optimally utilized by
virtue of statistical multiplexing.

Since only one single network access line is required, large savings can be made
in comparison to intermeshed network solutions.

Considerable savings in hardware costs can be made on the subscriber side
because the number of interfaces to the network is dramatically reduced.

Standards
Established widespread standards are the key to compatibility of equipment from
different vendors. The standards for Frame Relay are globally accepted and
implemented. This ensures that investments made by users and carriers are
safeguarded, even in the long term. In addition to existing standards, new standards
are also being devised to support new applications, thereby assuring compliance with
new market requirements.

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R R

DSU
R

R
R

Fig. 12

R
R

R R
FR network

R R

Fig. 13

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Little overhead
Since Frame Relay can make do with only a few bytes of overhead, the ratio of user
load to overall frame length is very good. This means that most of the bandwidth
used is actually available for transporting user data. The utilization of bandwidth by
Frame Relay is almost as good as for dedicated lines and clearly better than for other
technologies such as X.25 or IP switching.
Application of this effect to a large network with many network accesses only
improves the results:

Simple switching means little delay

Statistical multiplexing means effective utilization of bandwidth

Little protocol overhead also means effective utilization of bandwidth.

Scalability and flexibility

The Frame Relay network appears quite simple to end users. They have a direct
connection to the Frame Relay network cloud. As already mentioned, connections
are implemented by means of virtual circuits realized either as permanent or switched
virtual connections.
For this reason, Frame Relay networks are much easier to scale than nailed-up
connection networks. This means that changes in the network or network expansions
can be implemented without users noticing at all. Consequently, carriers can flexibly
adapt the topology and size of networks to satisfy prevailing requirements.
Moreover, alternative routes can be provided by a Frame Relay network. These
routes can be activated in error cases – transparently for end users.

Interworking with new services and applications

In contrast to nailed-up connection networks (that typically have an intermeshed
network topology), Frame Relay also permits other structures (e.g., star or hub). In
this way, new applications with specific requirements for the network topology can be
easily integrated into an existing Frame Relay network.
In the meantime, standards have also been created that, for example, allow
interworking with the new ATM technology. With the emergence of new applications
and increasingly demanding requirements regarding the available bandwidth, a
smooth transition to new technologies will be possible without any loss in investments
in the network installation.

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DS-0

X-25

ISDN Public Frame

Relay

FR
Access

Fig. 14

ATM
X-25
Public Frame
Relay
International
FR
ATM
Backbone

FR
Internet Access
Access IP

Fig. 15

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5 Exercises

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Exercise 1
Title: What is Frame Relay?
Objectives: The participant can define the term "Frame Relay"
Prerequisites: None
Task
Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following questions.
Query

Which of the definitions below applies to Frame Relay?

Frame Relay is a very fast communications technology used in many

communication networks throughout the world. Its main applications are for
connecting LANs, SNAs, the Internet along with voice applications.

Frame Relay is a future communications technology to be used in many

communication networks throughout the world. Its main application is for
provision of data and voice access to the Internet.

What prerequisites must exist for a Frame Relay network to operate smoothly?

Intelligent terminal equipment for end-to-end error correction.

Terminals without error correction functionality.

Transmission networks with high grades of service.

Analog transmission networks.

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Exercise 2
Title: Frame relay networks
Objectives: The participant can explain the basic structure of Frame Relay
networks
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the reference points for FR-UNI and FR-NNI in the diagram shown below.
Query

Frame relay Frame relay

network network

CPE

FR network access node FR network node

or
FR customer premises equipment

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Exercise 3
Title: Reasons for Frame Relay
Objectives: The participant can state the major reasons for using Frame
Relay
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following question.
Query
At the end of the 1980's there were a number of new trends that, when viewed
together as a whole, contributed to the increased demand for fast transmission of
data via wide area networks.

Which of the statements below are applicable?

Greater demand for bandwidth

Dynamic bandwidth requirements

Intelligent data terminal equipment (PCs, workstations, X-Windows terminals)

with enhanced computing performance is already available at relatively low
expense

Increasing demand for voice connections

More widespread implementation of LAN and client/server applications

Broad availability of digital networks

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Exercise 4
Title: Advantages of Frame Relay
Objectives: The participant can list the advantages of Frame Relay
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following question.
Query
Since its introduction, Frame Relay users have experienced a large number of
advantages over alternative technologies.

Which of the statements below are applicable?

Low procurement and operating costs

Standards that have been introduced and implemented that guarantee an open
architecture and allow simple implementation

Ideal technology for transmission of voice and video signals

Little overhead combined with a high level of operational reliability

Scalability and flexibility

Interworking with new services and applications – for example, ATM

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6 Solutions

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Solution 1
Title: What is Frame Relay?
Objectives: The participant can define the term "Frame Relay"
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following questions.
Query

Which of the definitions below applies to Frame Relay?

Frame Relay is a very fast communications technology used in many

communication networks throughout the world. Its main applications are for
connecting LANs, SNAs, the Internet along with voice applications.

Frame Relay is a future communications technology to be used in many

communication networks throughout the world. Its main application is for
provision of data and voice access to the Internet.

What prerequisites must exist for a Frame Relay network to operate smoothly?

Intelligent terminal equipment for end-to-end error correction.

Terminals without error correction functionality.

Transmission networks with high grades of service.

Analog transmission networks.

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Solution 2
Title: Frame relay networks
Objectives: The participant can explain the basic structure of Frame Relay
networks
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the reference points for FR-UNI and FR-NNI in the diagram shown below.
Query

NNI
Frame Relay Frame Relay
Netz Netz

UNI
CPE

FR Netzzugangsknoten FR Netzknoten
oder
FR Teilnehmerendgerät

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Solution 3
Title: Reasons for Frame Relay
Objectives: The participant can state the major reasons for using Frame
Relay
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following question.
Query
At the end of the 1980's there were a number of new trends that, when viewed
together as a whole, contributed to the increased demand for fast transmission of
data via wide area networks.

Which of the statements below are applicable?

Greater demand for bandwidth

Dynamic bandwidth requirements

Intelligent data terminal equipment (PCs, workstations, X-Windows terminals)

with enhanced computing performance is already available at relatively low
expense

Increasing demand for voice connections

More widespread implementation of LAN and client/server applications

Broad availability of digital networks

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Solution 4
Title: Advantages of Frame Relay
Objectives: The participant can list the advantages of Frame Relay
Prerequisites: None
Task

Mark the boxes with the correct answers to the following question.
Query
Since its introduction, Frame Relay users have experienced a large number of
advantages over alternative technologies.

Which of the statements below are applicable?

Low procurement and operating costs

Standards that have been introduced and implemented that guarantee an open
architecture and allow simple implementation

Ideal technology for transmission of voice and video signals

Little overhead combined with a high level of operational reliability

Scalability and flexibility

Interworking with new services and applications – for example, ATM

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