I've been struggling with the difference between locally significant DLCIs and global DLCIs for some time, partly becase I've read conflicting things from different sources. Now, my understanding is that DLCIs are essencially alwasy locally significant. The best analogy I've found is the speed dial numbers on phones, Bob may use speed dial 3 to reach Steve, while Sandy might use speed dial 2 on her phone to reach Steve. My understanding is that all global DLCIs do is create a global construct over this, i.e. now EVERYONE who wants to reach steve will use speed dial number 5. I've read in a Cisco book that with global, the DLCI in the frame is changed before it reaches the other end of the PVC, but this is done anyway isn't it? i.e. in local addressing if the recipient sees the PVC as DLCI 5, that is the DLCI the frame will get when it is sent down the access link to the DTE. I've also read things about "LMI extended specification" for global addressing, but I don't see what really needs to be changed in the technology or switches between local and global DLCI addressing. It's always local, and global is just a way to go about making it a little easier for humans to understand. If there is an authortative web page on this subject please let me know, or explain to me where my thinking is wrong. Thanks.