Understanding the network.pdf - Back to Home

the cost-effective and bandwidth-efficient topology options FR's "virtual circuit"
implementation model provides.
Because packet and cell-switched circuit terminations are "virtual links" between
two termination points, established across a shared transport, the possibility exists
to establish multiple virtual circuit (VC) terminations on a given point (that is, a
single router interface). This multipoint capability makes FR (and other packet and
cell-switched technologies) very attractive to enterprise network designers. It
allows construction of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint partially and fully
meshed WANs with a high degree of flexibility. Additionally, these topologies can be
implemented at carrier and hardware costs that are substantially less than what
would be incurred if a similar topology was implemented using dedicated circuits.
Figure 9.4 illustrates the possible multi-VC topologies that are supportable using FR
transport: point-to-multipoint (non-mesh), point-to-point (full mesh), and pointto-point
(partial mesh).