Frame-Relay Lab work

Frame-Relay Configuration

Configuring frame relay encapsulation is a little bit tricky and complicated. However, it is not as difficult as people think. In this post, we will explain a step by step guide to configure frame relay in Cisco Packet Tracer. However, we will not cover the theory part of the frame relay technology in this post. We assume that you are already familiar with basics of Frame Relay technology. You may use either Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3 simulator depending on your choice.

We will create the following frame-relay topology using Packet tracer version 7.0.

First of all, add all the routers and a frame relay switch in Cisco Packet Tracer. Next, interconnect all the devices using the appropriate interfaces as mentioned in the preceding topology. Once you have created the topology, the next step is to specify the frame-relay interfaces, DLCI, and other parameters. To do so, you need to perform the following steps:

1. In the right pane, select the values in the following order from the drop-down lists, and then click Add. It will create a frame-relay connection between Router1 and Router3.
2. Next, select Frame Relay under CONNECTIONS.
3. Next, select Serial2 interface, type 301 in the DLCI field, type R3-R1 in the Name field, and then click Add.
4. Next, select Serial1 interface, type 201 in the DLCI field, type R2-R1 in the Name field, and then click Add.
5. Again, type 103 in the DLCI field, type R1-R3 in the Name field, and then click Add. After performing these steps, the Cloud0 properties dialog box should look like the following figure.

6. Type 102 in the DLCI field, type R1-R2 in the Name field, and then click Add.
7. Double-click on Cloud0. On the Cloud0 properties dialog box, select Serial0 under INTERFACE.

1. Seria0
2. R1-R2
3. Serial
4. R2-R1

8. Again, select the values in the following order from the drop-down lists, and then click Add. It will create a frame-relay connection between Router1 and Router3.

1. Serial0
2. R1-R3
3. Serial2
4. R3-R1

9. The following figure to shows how to make the frame-relay connections.

10. Once you have created the frame-relay connections, close the Cloud0 properties dialog box.

Configuration step by step in Frame-Relay

After creating the frame relay topology, the next step is to configure frame-relay. You can configure either point-to-point or point-multi point frame relay depending on your requirement. In this demonstration, we will configure point-to-point frame relay. To do so, you need to execute the following commands:

> Move on to Router1 and execute the following commands to enable frame relay encapsulation on the Serial0/1/0 interface.

Router1

Router1(config)#interface Serial0/1/0 
Router1(config-if)#encapsulation frame-relay 
Router1(config-if)#no shut 

Router1(config-if)#exit

> Next, execute the following commands to create the point-to-point frame relay sub-interfaces (one for Router2 and one for Router3), assign the IP addresses, and specify the DLCI numbers.

> Next, execute the following commands to specify a routing method, in this case, RIP (Routing Information Protocol). However, you may use any of the routing methods.

Router1(config)#router rip
Router1(config-router)#network 10.0.0.0
Router1(config-router)#network 20.0.0.0
Router1(config-router)#exit

> The following figure shows the point-to-point frame relay configuration of Router1.

Router1(config)#interface Serial0/1/0
Router1(config-if)#encapsulation frame-relay
Router1(config-if)#no shutdown

(This is the command for Enable Frame-Relay encapsulation)

Router1(config)#interface Serial0/1/0.102 point-to-point
Router1(config-subif)#
%LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial0/1/0.102, changed state to up
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Serial0/1/0.102, changed state to up
Router1(config-subif)#ip address 10.0.0.1 255.0.0.0

Router1(config-subif)#frame-relay interface-dlci 102
Router1(config-subif)#exit

(These are the commands to Assign IP address and dlci number on the sub-interface) 



> After configuring frame relay on Router1, move on to Router2. Execute the following commands to configure the point-to-point frame relay and RIP routing.



Router2
Router2(config)#interface Serial0/1/0
Router2(config-if)#ip add 10.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
Router2(config-if)#encapsulation frame-relay
Router2(config-if)#frame-relay interface-dlci 201
Router2(config-if)#no shut
Router2(config-if)#exit

Router2(config)#router rip
Router2(config-router)#network 10.0.0.0
Router2(config-router)#exit







> After configuring frame relay on Router1 and Router2, move on to Router3. Execute the following commands to configure point-to-point frame relay and RIP routing.



Router3
Router3(config)#interface Serial0/1/0
Router3(config-if)#ip add 20.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
Router3(config-if)#encapsulation frame-relay
Router3(config-if)#frame-relay interface-dlci 301
Router3(config-if)#no shut
Router3(config-if)#exit
Router3(config)#router rip
Router3(config-router)#network 20.0.0.0
Router3(config-router)#exit









Verifying Frame-Relay configuration

Now, you have configured the point-to-point frame relay encapsulation on all the routers. Next, verify your frame relay configuration. To do so, execute the following commands on Router3 and check the output of each command.



Router3#show frame-relay pvc
Router3#show frame-relay map




> The following figure or screen shot shows the frame relay verification commands.





In the preceding figure, you can see that frame relay encapsulation has been configured on the Serial0/1/0 interface of Router3. Use the same commands to verify your frame relay configuration on Router2 and Router3.







In this post, we have learned how to configure frame relay in Cisco Packet Tracer. Hope, it helped you. If you stuck anywhere, please drop your queries in the comment box, we will try to address them. You can also share the post if you think it may help to others too.