Hands-on Frame Relay

Objectives Prerequisites Who should attend Course Outline Hands-on Sessions

NH-1.0

What you will learn...

If you need to know more about frame relay then this course is for you. You will:

  • Learn how to design, build and manage a frame relay network
  • Learn the building blocks of a frame relay network
  • Understand the service provider offerings
  • Know the key questions to ask of a service provider
  • Learn the key frame relay design parameters

Prerequisites

You should have a good basic understanding of WAN and LAN architectures and concepts. Familiarity with basic digital and analogue terms and technologies would be an advantage. We would recommend Hands-on Networking for Rookies for foundation knowledge.

Who should attend

Anyone involved in the planning, installation and management of a frame relay network. Your title might be Network Manager, Network Supervisor, MIS Manager, Technical Support Officer, Systems Integrator, Communications Designer, Systems Engineer, LAN Administrator, IT Officer or Communications Consultant.

Course Outline

Overview of LAN/WAN technologies

  • Key trends in data communications
  • LAN/WAN technologies
  • Changes in network connectivity

Frame relay use

  • Decision criteria
  • Applications
  • e-mail
  • file transfer
  • LAN-LAN
  • Survey of user profiles
  • the sites
  • port speeds
  • CIR decisions
  • Voice, video, data management
  • Business considerations
  • Internetworking directions

Frame relay overview

  • What is frame relay
  • Frame relay components
  • Key frame relay terminology
  • Frame relay international standards

Frame relay detailed perspective

  • Frame relay protocol operation
  • PVC establishment
  • SVC establishment
  • congestion notification
  • DLCI configuration
  • encapsulation issues
  • Implementation agreements
  • multiprotocol encapsulation - X.25
  • SNA, IP and APPN
  • network-to-network PVCs and SVCs
  • enhancement considerations
  • fragmentation


  • Management issues
  • Design parameters and issues
  • Voice over frame relay

Frame relay products

  • Frame relay economies
  • FRADs
  • Frame relay concentrators
  • Router options - interface or full switch compatibility
  • Backbone network infrastructure
  • Putting it all together

Frame relay considerations

  • Problems
  • Positives
  • Misconceptions

Frame relay interconnection

  • UNI
  • NNI
  • FUNI

Frame relay vendors

  • Key questions to ask
  • Australian service providers - AAPT, Telstra, Optus
  • Service offerings
  • Tariff and pricing alternatives
  • International connectivity options
  • Total service management offerings
  • Access alternatives
  • Expansion options

Frame relay connectivity and comparison

  • ISDN network
  • X.25 network
  • Dial and async network access
  • ATM
  • Frame User Network Interface (FUNI)
  • Data Exchange Interface (DXI)

Frame relay futures

  • Future trends
  • ATM translation
  • SVC

References

  • Frame Relay Forum details
  • WWW and FTP sites
  • Glossary of terms and acronyms

Hands-on Sessions

Network configuration

Having learnt the fundamentals of frame relay, you will be challenged to set up and configure a frame relay network. Various frame relay components such as Frame Relay Access Devices (FRAD) and router interface DLCI parameters will be configured. The network will be tested for correct network operation using test and analysis tools. Various local area networks will be linked via the frame relay network.

Protocols and performance

Using test and analysis tools, various protocol sessions across the frame relay network will be explored. These protocol sessions will include Unix and Novell server access. The frame relay protocol will be broken down into individual protocol elements. The method of higher layer protocol encapsulation will be investigated with protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). The operation of the frame relay network will be tested under high bandwidth demand scenarios.

Design case studies

You will be given a realistic network design exercise to complete. Various scenarios that deal with a business entity that has domestic and international wide area network requirements will be considered. Domestic frame relay and international frame relay options will need to be analysed and decisions such as Committed Information Rates (CIR), port speeds and pricing considered. Options for network linkages to networks such as X.25 and the consideration for a private or public frame relay network design will also be discussed.