What Is Frame Relay?
Frame Relay is a janky old thing. While it was the best thing out there in the early 90s when it was invented, it's a network technology that better, faster technologies have since replaced. That doesn't mean that Frame Relay isn't still being used—it just means that you should probably look into other options if you're looking to build a new network. Frame Relay is an old-school way of connecting remote sites over long distances. In this case, "remote site" means "the other side of town." A single serial interface on your router can connect multiple remote sites with the help of virtual circuits. Frame Relay is a packet-based protocol that does not have the same quality of service guarantees as a circuit-based network. The most common use for Frame Relay is for companies that need to connect branch offices but need more traffic to justify the cost of a T1 line. Frame Relay also works well for ISPs with a large data transfer volume but needs more volume to justify the purchase of a T3 line. Frame Relay is a connection-oriented link layer service. It provides features like non-duplication of frames, preservation of the frame transfer order and slight probability of frame loss. These properties make it one of the best choices for interconnecting local area networks using a vast area network. Frame Relay is like a big, cuddly bear. It's got many benefits, and it's always happy to help you with what you need. Frame Relay can help you save money on your internetworking costs by reducing the number of circuits and bandwidths required. Not only that, but Frame Relay increases performance by reducing network complexity—so you'll be less likely to get stuck in traffic jams! Frame Relay is also protocol-independent, so it can easily combine traffic from other networking protocols like IPX and SNA. If you were looking for cost savings due to Frame Relay? You've got it! Frame Relay makes management easier for network administrators and unifies hardware for different protocols.
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