Chapter 10. Frame Relay Introduction

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Frame Relay Components

• Frame Relay Error Handling

• Frame Relay Local Management Interface

Frame Relay is a Layer-2 (Data-Link) wide-area networking (WAN) protocol operating at both Layer-1 (Physical) and Layer-2 (Data-Link) of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model (see Figure 10-1). Frame Relay WANs are often deployed as a cost-effective replacement for point-to-point leased line services. Where point-to-point customers incur a monthly fee for local access and long-haul connections, Frame Relay customers incur the same monthly fee for local access but have only a fraction of the long-haul connection fee.

Figure 10-1. Frame Relay WAN

Frame Relay was standardized by two standards bodies internationally by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T) and domestically by American National Standards Institute (ANSI).