Connecting 2 frame relay switches together

[ejeangilles]

Hello. I have 2 2610 routers with an 8 port async/sync card in each giving me 16 ports in all. I have each one configured as a full mesh frame relay switch by configuring the dlci's. Is there anyway I connect the 2 giving me a 16 port full mesh frame relay switch. If so what would be the configuration. Thanks in advance...

 

[Minue]

Hello
I have never seen it done.But I would say it can't be done.You would have to try it,just play around with the logical mappings.Just for curiosity will you be using more than 8 routers.
Regards

 

[CiscoGuy33]

ejeangilles,

I am not sure if this will work - found it at CC Prep, but I am with Minue in asking if you have more than 8 routers to connect in a lab, even a CCIE lab with Frame Relay only has about 6 routers connected in the Frame Relay mesh -


Setting Up 2 2501's as a Frame Relay Switch

Some may not have the luxury of having a 2520 or a single router with more than 2 serial interfaces to be able to do full mesh frame relay scenarios.

You can combine two 2501's to act as a single frame relay switch to give you 4 serial port to use for frame relay simulations using a tunnel interface

Cisco 2501 # 1
!
version 11.2
service udp-small-servers
service tcp-small-servers
!
hostname frame
!
!
frame-relay switching
!
interface Tunnel0
no ip address
tunnel source Ethernet0
tunnel destination 192.168.1.1
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0
!
interface Serial0
no ip address
encapsulation frame-relay
clockrate 1000000
frame-relay lmi-type ansi
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 112 interface Serial1 211
frame-relay route 113 interface Tunnel0 311
frame-relay route 114 interface Tunnel0 411
!
interface Serial1
no ip address
encapsulation frame-relay
clockrate 1000000
frame-relay lmi-type ansi
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 211 interface Serial0 112
!
no ip classless
!
line con 0
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
login
!
end


Cisco 2501 # 2
!
version 11.2
no service password-encryption
no service udp-small-servers
no service tcp-small-servers
!
hostname frame2
!
!
frame-relay switching
!
interface Tunnel0
no ip address
tunnel source Ethernet0
tunnel destination 192.168.1.2
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Serial0
no ip address
encapsulation frame-relay
clockrate 1000000
frame-relay lmi-type ansi
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 311 interface Tunnel0 113
!
interface Serial1
no ip address
encapsulation frame-relay
clockrate 1000000
frame-relay lmi-type ansi
frame-relay intf-type dce
frame-relay route 411 interface Tunnel0 114
!
no ip classless
!
!
line con 0
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
login
!
end"


* * * * * * * * * * * *

The above configuration example was brought to you by CCPrep.

Hope this helps!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[ejeangilles]

Yes. I have 10 routers total that I want to connect to a frame relay switch for some complex lab scenarios. I just thought I saw somewhere where this was possible.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

ejeangilles,

Well it looks like you should be able to do it the same way as you would connect the 2 2501's above - with a tunnel between the Ethernet ports on the 2 2610's as shown above.

You would need a cross-over cable for connecting Ethernet to Ethernet unless they are plugged into a common hub or switch.

Please report back if you try this and it works or does not work. I also thought I saw something on a CCIE lab page about connecting 2 2501's with the AUX port to save having to get a 2520/2521 router.

You could also get a Cisco 2522/2523 router that does have 10 serial interfaces on it and use that for your Frame Relay switch!!! These can be found fairly low in price and work good for Frame Relay switches in labs!!

Hope this helps!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[unclerico]

Tunnel interface will work or else steal a serial port from each device and connect them together using NNI (should work)

I hate all Uppercase... I don't want my groups to seem angry at me all the time! =)
- ColdFlame (vbscript forum)

 

[ejeangilles]

Yes I will try this in the nex day or 2. I'm going to connect both routers with a crossover cable and use this config

router1
!
interface Tunnel0
no ip address
tunnel source Ethernet0
tunnel destination 192.168.1.1
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0


router2
!
interface Tunnel0
no ip address
tunnel source Ethernet0
tunnel destination 192.168.1.2
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0