Cisco: Configuring a Frame-Relay switch

Contributed by Headhunter  
Tagged: Cisco router  

When you build a Cisco lab for home use you can simulate a Frame-Relay cloud using a 2521 or 2522 or 2600 series with an 8-port sync/async card.

The first step we do is enable Frame-Relay switching on the router with the frame-relay switching global configuration command.

We then decide the type of interface we are going to be, i.e. DCE or DTE end. Let’s say our Frame-Relay switch will be the DCE end for our network. This is achieved using the following interface configuration command:
Router(config)#interface serial0
Router(config-if)#frame-relay intf-type dce
We can replace dce with dte or nni if we decide to use that type of interface. This command has to be entered on all the intefaces that are part of our simulated Frame-Relay cloud.

Now we need to setup the static routes for the Frame-Relay PVCs, using the following interface configuration command:
Router(config)#interface serial0
Router(config-if)#frame-relay route local_DLCI interface outgoing_interface outgoing_interface_DLCI

You can interpret the command as follows: All data from the local_DLCI on serial0 will be destined for the outgoing_interface_DLCI on the outgoing_interface.
The more PVCs you create the more route statements you need when using a full mesh but you can also a hub-and-spoke topology.