Black Box Explains...Frame Relay.
What is it?
Frame Relay is a type of packet-based switching technology that’s streamlined for speed. It was developed to solve communication problems that other protocols could not: large bandwidth efficiency for clumping (“bursty”) traffic, lower protocol processing, and high speeds.
What does it do?
Frame Relay provides a signal and data-transfer mechanism between the endpoints, or sites, of a network. It enables many users to share bandwidth, creating instantaneous bandwidth-on-demand (“BONDing”). It sends information in packets called frames that contain all the information necessary to route it to the correct destination. So in effect, each endpoint can communicate with many destinations over one access link to the network. And instead of being allocated a fixed amount of bandwidth, Frame-Relay traffic gets full bandwidth for short, bursty transmissions.
How does it work?
The Frame-Relay network contains user devices and network devices. The sending user device delivers the frames to the network. The network reads the addressing information on the frames and routes them to the proper destination user devices. Frame Relay assumes the data is error free, which cuts out a time-consuming step in the processing protocol. Therefore, the data travels much faster than with other, older technologies. Any error correction is done by the user devices (PCs, routers).
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits of Frame Relay: lower internetworking costs—with multiple logical connections over a single physical connection, you get lower equipment costs and access costs plus better performance; more network access; and less network complexity.
What equipment do I need?
Black Box has all the equipment you need to run Frame Relay. When used with a bridge or router and a CSU/DSU, our Frame-Relay Switches send your data across your WAN and implement the Frame-Relay interface. Our FrameRouter also gives you quick access to the Internet.
If you’re not sure which Frame-Relay device is best for your system, just call Tech Support at 724-746-5500, and press 1, 2, 3 to get the expert help of our Communications Team.