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Re: Another UUNET Explanation

  • From: Nathan Stratton
  • Date: Tue Jul 01 20:40:00 1997

On Tue, 1 Jul 1997, Joe McGuckin wrote:

> 
> I've noticed that several of the larger networks use frame-relay.
> 
> Why? Our experience with frame-relay with the local telco has had
> mixed results.

If you mean local or public frame relay clouds, most of us don't run our
network on them. NetRail and several other providers run FR over the local
loops to our customers using Cascade hardware. As far as backbone links
they are clear channel DS3 into a frame switch. 

> What technical advantages does a frame-relay network have over an 
> IP routed network?

Much lower overhead, but ATM is starting to take over frame relay in the
backbone. This is because of several reasons, one of them is the need
for higher speed backbones. Frame relay right now does not scale above 
DS3, this is starting to be way to small for backbone links. One other big
reason is that the cost of OC3 and higher links are dropping in cost. We
upgraded some of our backbone links to OC3 because the cost of OC3 was
much less then several DS3s in a lot of areas. If you can get a OC3 for
about 1 - 2 x the cost of a DS3 you don't worry as much about the cell
tax. 


Nathan Stratton                                President, NetRail,Inc.
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Phone   (888)NetRail                           NetRail, Inc.
Fax     (404)522-1939                          230 Peachtree Suite 500
WWW     http://www.netrail.net/                Atlanta, GA 30303
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