Frame Relay Overview - HP ProCurve 7000dl Series Basic Management And Configuration Manual

Configuring the Data Link Layer Protocol for E1, T1, and Serial Interfaces
Table 6-3. Additional Configuration Settings for the PPP Interface
Settings
access controls to filter incoming and outgoing traffic
bridging
VPNs
routing commands for OSPF, RIP, or BGP
quality of service settings

Frame Relay Overview

For companies that can accept lower transmission speeds during peak usage
times, Frame Relay provides a more affordable WAN solution than a dedicated
E1- or T1-carrier line. Frame Relay can run over a variety of physical WAN
connections, including E1- and T1-carrier lines. Whatever the physical WAN
connection is, Frame Relay allocates bandwidth on that connection dynami-
cally. As a result, public carriers provide a subscriber with bandwidth only
when that subscriber requires it.
Frame Relay cuts costs both for public carriers and subscribers because it
minimizes idle bandwidth: Public carriers can allocate the same bandwidth to
multiple subscribers, and subscribers do not pay for bandwidth that they do
not use.
When companies purchase Frame Relay service, they negotiate a Service
Level Agreement (SLA) that specifies a Committed Information Rate (CIR),
the amount of bandwidth they can use. The CIR is contractually guaranteed
bandwidth, rather than physically guaranteed as with dedicated E1- or T1-
carrier lines. If Frame Relay carriers do not provide the CIR, however, they
can be fined. Consequently, carriers usually ensure that the bandwidth stipu-
lated in the CIR is available to the customer. (See Figure 6-5.)
Configuring the Logical Interface
Configuration Page Number
Guide
Advanced 5-19, 5-38
Basic 10-6
Advanced 10-46
Advanced 15-1
Advanced 8-28
6-19