System information

Troubleshooting Frame Relay
Book Title
18-402
Figure 18-5 A Hybrid Frame Relay Network
A public Frame Relay service is deployed by putting Frame Relay switching equipment in the
central offices of a telecommunications carrier. In this case, users can realize economic benefits from
traffic-sensitive charging rates and are relieved from the work necessary to administer and maintain
the network equipment and service.
In either type of network, the lines that connect user devices to the network equipment can operate
at a speed selected from a broad range of data rates. Speeds between 56 kbps and 2 mbps are typical,
although Frame Relay can support lower and higher speeds.
Whether in a public or private network, the support of Frame Relay interfaces to user devices does
not necessarily dictate that the Frame Relay protocol is used between the network devices. No
standards for interconnecting equipment inside a Frame Relay network currently exist. Thus,
traditional circuit-switching, packet-switching, or a hybrid approach combining these technologies
can be used.
Troubleshooting Frame Relay
This section discusses troubleshooting procedures for connectivity problems related to Frame Relay
links. It describes specific Frame Relay symptoms, the problems that are likely to cause each
symptom, and the solutions to those problems.
The following sections cover the most common network issues in Frame Relay networks:
• Frame Relay: Frame Relay Link Is Down
• Frame Relay: Cannot ping Remote Router
• Frame Relay: Cannot ping End-to-End
Ethernet
Video/teleconference
Ethernet
WAN
Token
Ring
Token
Ring
T1 MUX
PBX
T1 MUX
Non-Frame Relay
interface
Non-Frame Relay
interface
Frame Relay
interface
Frame Relay
interface
Router
Router