Hiya Jonathan,
On 13-02-98, whilst lying in the gutter of the information super highway, I 
heard Jonathan Hunter whispering to All about Frame Relay,
 JH> What cards can you get for PCs for Frame Relay support?? (Is that the
 JH> same as X.21??) I have been enquiring about leased lines recently,
 JH> and all the companies seem to offer two options - with and without a
 JH> router.
My experience of Frame Relay isn't huge but ours all present on a standard 
X21 interface. Whether Linux can handle the concept of virtual paths properly 
or not I' don't know.
 JH> I've no idea if I'm oversimplifying here, but since we're only going
Probably but I do it all the time at work to no ill effect. =o)
 JH> to be getting one IP address, for a Linux box to use for IP
 JH> masquerading, can I assume that we don't need a fully-fledged router?
No. Even if you get X21 for the Linux box, what do you think it'll be doing?
 JH> Can we simply get a frame relay interface card for the Linux machine,
 JH> and plug the leased line direct into that??
I doubt it.
 JH> If so, what card is best to buy?? And what is the kernel support like
 JH> for it? How do I configure it?
Pass. I can recommend 3Com Office Connect routers if you choose to buy your 
own as we use them at work. I guess the "without router" option is for 
outfits like work with multi-slot routers. The theory behind Frame relay says 
you don't need multiple ports 'cos you've got multiple (virtual) paths.
Whilst Linux (and OS/2) boxes can do some IP routing, I'm still a firm 
believer that it's horses for courses and seeing the problems (bugs) in 
existing 3Com and Cisco routers that are supported by enormous budget and 
resource companies, I have to be sceptical about Linux's abilities. Then 
again, a box with a default route up the WAN link shouldn't have too many 
problems.
 JH> I'm sorry if these questions are a bit basic, but I've never had the
 JH> chance to play with leased lines at all yet... Hopefully the day will
 JH> come soon! 
We all started somewhere.
  /| /        neil.croft@capgemini.co.uk
 / |/eil =o)        2:250/410 @ fidonet
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