| As I pointed out in a previous article, Supply Chain | | | | to control its own security. The frame relay network |
| Management (SCM) is a complex animal. The key to a | | | | was vulnerable to external monitoring at very few |
| successful SCM implementation is a clear | | | | points, and the relationship of PVC traffic to specific |
| understanding of the business objectives and business | | | | customer required specific network design |
| requirements of the company the SCM primarily | | | | information.Frame relay offered the ability to have a |
| supports. This often includes a number of legacy | | | | disaster recovery site support multiple locations. PVC |
| systems which need to be integrated into the solution. | | | | between the disaster location and other locations could |
| From this will come the technical objectives to be met | | | | be defined in the configuration, allowing dynamic |
| and the technical requirements that frame the solution. | | | | implementation of the disaster recovery network.As a |
| Only then will the commmunication requirements for | | | | circuit protocol, frame relay functions independent of |
| bandwidth capacity, reliability, resiliancy, latency, security, | | | | other protocols. This segmentation allowed IPX, IP, |
| and expandability be meaningful.Here's just 2 such | | | | SNA, and other system communications protocols to |
| technical aspects.....Frame RelayFrame relay initially had | | | | be implemented over the same paths. If desired, each |
| several advantages over the alternative solutions for | | | | of these could have its own PVC and bandwidth, or |
| SCM and other multi site and multi company | | | | they could all operate over a common path. Finally, the |
| communications networks.The first advantage was | | | | bandwidth and performance could be established |
| with circuit costs. For a multi site network, the traditional | | | | specifically to site pairs on a PVC basis.For a vendor |
| approach was a large number of point to point circuits. | | | | that participated in multiple SCM networks, frame relay |
| Each circuit required a router port, a CSU, and often a | | | | represented real cost savings. Instead of a new circuit |
| circuit monitoring module. With milage based pricing, | | | | for each network, a PVC could be established. Instead |
| each circuit represented a significant recurring cost on | | | | of 6 week circuit installation delays, service could be |
| top of the initial hardware costs. Router sizing was | | | | established in hours.----So why the past tense? The |
| often a factor of ports supported rather than | | | | advantages of frame relay are now achieved via the |
| performance capability.Frame relay exchanged the | | | | Internet. The timeframes for implementation have been |
| point to point circuit costs with an access circuit, | | | | reduced from hours to minutes. Encryption has |
| typically at less than 1/10th of the cost. With port | | | | advanced beyond the security offered by isolated |
| speeds from DS0 to DS3, multiple sites could be | | | | paths. Advances in application based routing can |
| connected with a single port at each site. A partial or | | | | achieve availablity assurances. Legacy protocols have |
| full mesh, even with full redundancy, could be | | | | been largely replaced by IP.There are still times when |
| accomplished with very few router ports and CSU at | | | | frame relay is the best choice based on business |
| each site. This represented significant capital | | | | requirements or technical constraints. But a robust |
| savings.Using fractional T1 and T3 on the access | | | | bandwidth network (e.g. OC3 or OC12 |
| circuits, frame relay made expanding capacity | | | | bandwidth....perhaps with GigE connectivity) applying IP |
| between sites relatively painless. Port changes within | | | | protocols will enable a seemless flow of information |
| the frame relay provider's network was often a | | | | without risking security concerns.Emerging |
| configuration change. Expanding the actual circuits was | | | | TechnologiesThe most notable is Radio Frequency |
| typically a configuration change on the CSU and | | | | Identification, or RFID. RFID tags are essentially |
| DACS.Adding new sites was often accomplished with | | | | barcodes on steroids. Whereas barcodes only identify |
| physical changes at the new site only. The new PVC | | | | the product, RFID tags can tell what the product is, |
| across the frame relay network and at the existing | | | | where it has been, when it expires, whatever |
| site(s) was a configuration change. Depending on the | | | | information someone wishes to program it with. RFID |
| routers used and the routing protocol implemented, this | | | | technology is going to generate mountains of data |
| might be accomplished without a maintenance | | | | about the location of pallets, cases, cartons, totes and |
| window.The PVC approach allowed for additional | | | | individual products in the supply chain. It's going to |
| security. A given location could be directed to a | | | | produce oceans of information about when and where |
| specific port within the DMZ, limiting the exposure of | | | | merchandise is manufactured, picked, packed and |
| one's own network to other vendors within the SCM | | | | shipped. |
| network. Firewalls at each end allowed each company | | | | |