Slide 22 of 25
Notes:
In today’s environment, many network managers choose to use frame relay and/or ATM to support multiple protocols and applications over the wide area network. While standards and implementation are well on their way for the support of multiple protocols over an IP-based network (tunneling), deployments are scarce in a true production environment.
Even some of the corporate networks running IP can easily justify the deployment of frame relay and/or ATM on the backbone despite the additional overhead, particularly in large networks. The end user can benefit from the scalability, more direct transport of information, more guaranteed information delivery, and higher level of security of frame relay (especially when compared with the Internet).
As end user’s applications and needs continue to evolve, many network managers will find themselves operating in a multi-solution environment. Various technologies will be implemented strategically throughout the network where their features and benefits are most in-line with application demands. For example, remote sites may continue to utilize frame relay, while host location demands require ATM, and business partner communication is achieved through an Extranet. All of these locations, applications, and technologies working together seamlessly to end users.
