Cisco Router Emulates Frame-Relay Switch
One of the main topics on your CCNA and CCNP exams is Frame Relay. Also, Frame Relay is a popular WAN topology in today’s networks. Getting hands-on experience with Frame Relay in Cisco networks is very important part of your preparation for the CCNA and CCNP exam and imperative for the CCIE lab exam.
Our lab frame relay switch is not a switch at all; it’s a Cisco router. There are a number of Cisco routers that can serve as your frame switch, but you will need multiple serial interfaces at least four to make a router useful as a frame-relay switch. The Cisco 2520-23 makes excellent frame switches, as well as the Cisco 2600 and 3600 series routers with a NM-4 or 8A/S module installed. Any of these can be found on eBay at reasonable prices.
My particular preference would be a Cisco 3620 with a NM-8A/S module. This will not only provide you with an 8 port frame-relay switch but if you install a NM-32A module it will serve as a terminal server as well.
You will also need some DTE/DCE crossover cables. The DCE end of the cables will be connected to the frame switch. A common basic configuration for a CCNA practice lab is three routers that serve as “production” routers, and a 4th router configured as a frame relay switch.
The following is basic hub and spoke frame-relay switch configuration using a 2520, but a 2610 or 3620 with a NM-4 or 8A/S module installed would work as well, only the serial interface name would need to be changed.
(Note: Important frame-relay commands marked in bold.)
hostname FRAME_SWITCH
!
!
ip subnet-zero
no ip domain-lookup
frame-relay switching
!
!
!
interface Ethernet0
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
shutdown
!
interface Serial0
no ip address
interface Serial1
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
encapsulation frame-relay
logging event subif-link-status
logging event dlci-status-change
clockrate 56000
! no frame-relay inverse-arp
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 201 interface Serial2 202
frame-relay route 301 interface Serial3 303
frame-relay route 401 interface Serial3 404
!
interface Serial1
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
encapsulation frame-relay
logging event subif-link-status
logging event dlci-status-change
clockrate 56000
no frame-relay inverse-arp
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 202 interface Serial1 201
!
interface Serial2
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
encapsulation frame-relay
logging event subif-link-status
logging event dlci-status-change
clockrate 56000
no frame-relay inverse-arp
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 303 interface Serial1 301
!
interface Serial3
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
encapsulation frame-relay
logging event subif-link-status
logging event dlci-status-change
clockrate 56000
no frame-relay inverse-arp
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 404 interface Serial1 401
The frame-relay switch can also be configured to support a full mesh so that each port can access any other port directly as the following diagram shows.
If you feel you now have a good understanding of frame-relay try configuring the frame-relay shown in the following diagram.
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I recently wrote an essay on a similar thematic but I see some nice points listed here that I miss in my essay, “ask for change” for example. I really like this one
November 19th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Greetings. I really did some web surfing and found this blog. I decided by way of this blog put up and it is really incredible.I definitely genuinely enjoy your website.Perfectly, the chunk of posting is in guarantee the very finest on this genuinely worth though subject. I added it and i’m hunting ahead to your upcoming site reports. I also observed that your website has some excellent connecting completed to it. I will correct apart get hold of your rss feed to stay informed of any revisions. Wonderful information you received right here.Delight maintain revise on your fantastic article.Thanks.
November 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but goodtopic.|I needs to spend some time learningmore or understanding more.|Thanks for greatinformation I was looking for this information for my mission.
November 20th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Brilliant blog posting. I found your post very interesting, I think you are a brilliant writer. I added your blog to my bookmarks and will return in the future.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:03 am
wow, awesome post, I was wondering how to cure acne naturally. and found your blog by bing, many userful stuff here, now i have got some idea. bookmarked and also signed up your rss. keep us updated.
November 22nd, 2010 at 8:47 am
Great Post!! Thank you very much!
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Brilliant blog posting. I found your post very interesting, I think you are a brilliant writer. I added your blog to my bookmarks and will return in the future.
November 24th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
How to be a surety expert in network and datas judicature? Hullo, I wanted to know about the mortals who are called security measures expert or working to protect the electronic network or informations from the drudges. What are the courses available to know all these about network security? What are the reservations asked to work as a security expert in a company? Thanks to all for your important suggestions?
November 25th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
How is a Lake herring router any different from any other router and why do most companies create such a big deal about having a Lake herring network certification?
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Appreciate your inforamtion. It is just too greeeeat!
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Just discovered your site on the internet and i think it’s a pity that you’re not rated higher since this is a terrific publish. To change i chose to save your site to my personal Rss or atom readers as well as I’ll try to mention a person in a single associated with my articles since you genuinely deserv much more readers whenever posting content material of the quality.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:00 am
hi, excellent web blog, and a very good understand! one for my bookmarks.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:26 am
very good page. Good info congrats. This is one the best Articles and info I have seen lately; one important thing I came across is the fact of the growing demand for seo companies . I am sure I will return to this website to enjoy a little more best regards, serp
December 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am
very good page. Good info congrats. This is one the best Articles and info I have seen lately; one important thing I came across is the fact of the growing demand for seo companies . I am sure I will return to this website to enjoy a little more best regards, serp
January 1st, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Interesting blog on Cisco Router Emulates Frame-Relay Switch, not like the other ones!
January 15th, 2011 at 7:38 am
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.