Netalliance specializes in bringing you the best in Frame Relay Internet Connectivity specifically configured and installed for your organization. We handle everything from the equipment procurement, coordination with telecommunications carriers, to firewalls and bringing your network up live on the Internet.
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frame-relay network internet access
The introduction of the LAN in the 80âs has forced dramatic changes in the way businesses operate. Suddenly there were LANs everywhere. They improved communication and collaboration among colleagues and created an untold number of management headaches. One problem is that each LAN was an island unto itself. They could be connected fairly easily if they were in the same building but what about divisions across the country.
Some companies solved this problem using X.25 but most purchased expensive leased lines. X.25 was simply too slow for most applications.
Frame Relay solves all of that. It is a fast packet network that allows businesses to connect all of their divisions with performance that rivals leased lines but at a considerably lower cost.
Frame Relay bandwidth is available in increments of the DS0 channel, or 56kbps; In other words, one single cable delivers inverse-multiplexed bandwidth totaling n x 56kb channels. Netalliance offers Frame Relay in configurations of 128kbps or full T1, or 1,544kbps.
It's ideal for "bursty" traffic such as LAN-LAN integration applications, client-server transactions, credit authorizations, etc. Communications are almost instantaneous, because the channel is always "on" -- no dialing is required.
There are three connection components that must be configured for Frame Relay. The local loop is the copper wire from each site to the LEC. The LEC connects your local loop to a Frame Relay Port. This port manages the ingress and egress of data to the Frame Relay cloud. The last connection component is a Permanent Virtual Circuit or PVC between each site.
Local Loop & Port Size
You select the local loop and port size much the same way that you would if you were provisioning leased lines. Decide how much data you will need to put into the pipe at one point in time and that determines the bandwidth that you purchase for the local loop and port.
PVCs - Permanent Virtual Circuits
PVCs are the software-defined data paths through the physical network over which the data traffic is actually routed. They do not correspond to physical circuits, as frame relay networks have redundant paths between sites or 'nodes' on the network, and the best physical path changes from moment to moment as traffic congestion ebbs and flows and service outages occur. The network dynamically adjusts in real-time to these changing conditions and routes traffic over the best path at a given moment. This flexibility delivers a very high level of service and reliability!
Netalliance will work with you to determine the proper configuration for your PVCs, which requires some consideration. A Committed Information Rate or CIR is specified for each PVC, which regulates how much bandwidth the network guarantees you on a given path. If you use more bandwidth than the CIR guarantees the network marks all of the packets above the CIR as Discard Eligible (DE).
When the network gets congested it will begin to discard DE packets. How often this happens depends on how the carrier designs and manages their network. Suffice it to say that many companies with bursty data configure relatively low CIRs and burst above that CIR during peak loads without a significant problem. If a frame is discarded, your CPE Frame Relay router will detect that event and re-transmit the frame; the network does not notify you of discarded frames.
ordering frame-relay services
Getting connected to the Internet via Frame Relay involves Netalliance configuring your equipment and arranging for the local telephone company (typically US West) to install the line based our configuration settings. Installation typically is 2-3 weeks for the installation from US West. Once the line is installed, we will coordinate your equipment installation and internet service rollout with you.
Phone 651-556-9600; Fax 651-645-7550; info@backpack.net
All rights reserved. All material copyright. Netalliance, Inc. © 1995-2005. Updated: June 12, 2008.
