Frame relay: back to basics, standards and implementations

Frame relay´s currently defined as an access protocol to packet networks, operating at speeds of up to 2048 kbit/s. Although standards for switched virtual circuits are drafted, all implementations to date use the permanent virtual circuit mode of operation. The three basic functions of packet multiplexing on to aggregate trunks, on-demand bandwidth allocation, and congestion management are discussed briefly. CCIT and ANSI standards are cited and two distinct approaches to implementation are contrasted