What is Frame Relay and use case of it?

[saishreevj]

What is Frame Relay and use case of it?

[Richard Burts]

Perhaps this article will provide helpful information to get you started:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_Relay

[saishreevj]

@Richard Burts do we use still use frame relay in our networks now?

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

frame relay (and ATM as well) are rather ancient techniques and have been replaced by e.g. MPLS. Frame Relay is not widely used anymore, due to overhead and relatively slow speeds.

Not sure how old you are and if you remember the sound an analogue modem mode, but that is how old and outdated Frame Relay is...

[Richard Burts · Accepted solution]

I agree with Georg that Frame Relay is an old technology. There may still be some networks somewhere that still use it. But it has been replaced by newer technologies. Back when our WAN links were mostly serial links Frame Relay was an attractive alternative. Your WAN could use a dedicated circuit where 100% of the traffic was your traffic, and you paid 100% of the cost of it. Or your WAN could use Frame Relay where your traffic shared the media with other traffic and you paid only part of the cost of the circuit. But WAN technologies have improved and pretty much replaced Frame Relay. 

[saishreevj]

@Georg Pauwen got it, thanks for the update. 

[Richard Burts]

I am glad that our explanations have been helpful. Thank you for marking this question as solved. This will help other participants in the community to identify discussions which have helpful information. This community is an excellent place to ask questions and to learn about networking. I hope to see you continue to be active in the community.