Configure Frame Relay

Configuring Frame Relay is a little more complicated than configuring point to point networks and therefore involves a few more steps. First is to configure the interface as a frame relay link. At the same time, you need to specify the type of frame relay packets carried by this network. Currently, cisco only supports IETF and Cisco's own frame relay packet types. Since not very many vendors use the cisco format, we always specify IETF. The format of this command as as follows.

interface Serial0/0
ip address X.X.X.X(ip) Y.Y.Y.Y(subnet)
encapsulation frame-relay IETF

Having the wrong LMI type specified can interfere with the operation of the frame relay circuit. Cisco supports LMI types ANSI (annex D), cisco (default), and q933a (annex A). Most vendors' switches are capable of auto detecting which LMI type you are using but not all. Generally, its safe to leave the default LMI type set. Should you need to change it, the command is

frame-relay lmi-type ANSI

to specify the ANSI packet format.

Using LMI, the router can obtain information from the switch and other routers with PVCs to this circuit to build its own DLCI list or map as its sometimes called. However, it should be noted that cisco has problems talking to some vendors' equipment (most notably Livingston Enterprises.) This can result in the router sensing an active PVC (based on what its getting from the switch) but not being able to tell what the address of the router on the other end is. For the sake of robustness, it is generally better to manually configure the DLCI list. This can make it more difficult to configure the router or make changes in the frame relay network but can save considerable headaches when initially configuring a circuit or coping with service disruptions within the frame relay network.

The DLCI number assigned to each PVC is provided by the telco and is entered into the router along with the networking protocol operating over this PVC as well as additional optional information about this PVC. For example, a router transmitting IP into with an address of X.X.X.X(ip) and connected to DLCI 19 would be entered into the "map" as shown below

frame-relay map ip X.X.X.X(ip) broadcast IETF

Again, the packet type needs to be specified for this particular PVC and again, we have selected IETF. The "broadcast" keyword instructs the router to forward broadcast packets over this PVC. This can assist with broadcast routing protocols, for example. One line is needed for each DLCI configured. You can check to see the status of the PVC you just setup by entering the command "show frame-relay map" from the EXEC prompt.