Frame relay joins the Internet

A compelling frame relay development out of Networld+Interop in Atlanta was MCI/WorldCom's announcement of a frame relay-to-Internet gateway service. The service-when it becomes available in January 1999-will potentially allow tried-and-true frame relay customers to extend the reach of their secure frame relay services to remote users, extranet sites such as trading partner locations, and other destinations inexpensively and securely across the Internet. MCI/Worldcom and CheckPoint Software are teaming to build and maintain firewalls that sit at the network interconnection points.

This is an interesting twist to a service provider's portfolio. The MCI/WorldCom service will likely appeal to the many satisfied frame relay users who enjoy the Layer 2 virtual private network capabilities that frame relay affords, because they can extend their reach outside of the closed user group without adding costly dedicated connections.

Frame Relay Internet Gateway eliminates the need for multiple access links to Internet gateways. Users get one integrated platform for frame relay and UUNET-provided Internet services and thus need only one gateway port to serve multiple sites. Using security-enhanced network-to-network interfaces,customer's frame relay networks link to the Internet via permanent virtual circuits directed to one of six managed security gateways sprinkled around the MCI WorldCom network. Customers in remote sites can access their company's frame relay system through one of these managed security gateways.

Steven Taylor, consultant and broadband packet evangelist, and Joanie Wexler, an independent networking technology editor and writer, team up to bring you this analysis and commentary. Taylor specializes in education and market analysis, and Wexler adds incisive reporting and research. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to www.webtorials.com, the first Web site dedicated exclusively to market studies and technology tutorials in the Broadband Packet areas of Frame Relay, ATM, and IP. Feedback and additional topic ideas are welcome. Please contact taylor@webtorials.com or joanie_wexler@mindspring.com.

Frame relay all the rage at N+I
An overview of frame announcements at the show. Network World, 10/26/98.

Achieving a universal reach
Looking at VPNs. Network World on Frame Relay, 5/30/98.

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