What Is Frame Relay - HP auroraTempo User Manual

aurora Tempo - User Guide
Introduction to Frame Relay
This chapter provides an overview of Frame Relay and
explains the standards and terminology associated with
it.

What is Frame Relay?

Frame Relay is a data communications technology which
provides efficient, fast packet transmission for wide-area
networking over modern digital access lines. Frame Relay
takes its name from the data link or 'frame' layer of the
OSI model.
Prior to 1989 Frame Relay was simply part of the larger
ISDN specification. However, it was soon realized that
the principles behind Frame Relay made it suitable for
use outside the ISDN and, as a result, it was developed
for use in a stand-alone environment.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, Frame Relay has
gained widespread support as an alternative to private
and public packet-switched wide-area networks, such as
X.25. This is mainly due to its ability to transport high
speed, 'bursty' traffic both efficiently and cost-effectively.
The term 'bursty' is used to describe high-speed
communications for short periods of time.
Frame Relay versus X.25
Frame Relay shares many similarities with X.25 packet
switching. As with X.25, signalling information and data
are multiplexed together and transmitted over the same
line. Transmission over the network is governed by LAPF
which is similar to LAPD (Link Access Protocol for the
ISDN D Channel).
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