Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating
task even in the best of situations. There’s lots to consider in
order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you’ll
find some help when evaluating Frame Relay vs VPN. Factors
covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application,
Pros, Cons, and Costs.
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Technology: Frame Relay
Speed: 56 Kbps - 1.544 Mbps
Description: A high-speed, packet based, data transmission
service used in wide area networks (WANs) to connect multiple
locations.
Application: Used to connect multiple locations to a main
location or to each other.
Pros: Cheaper alternative to private line connections. Ability
to burst when needed. Widely available.
Cons: Up-front equipment cost can be prohibitive.
Costs: Frame relay monthly cost starts at around a few $100 per
location for a stable, reliable system. Price climbs as speed
increases. However….the pricing for these connections varies
widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the
application for which the connection is being used.
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Technology: VPN
Speed: 56 Kbps - 1.544 Mbps
Description: VPN is a software-defined network that runs over a
shared public network and offers the appearance, functionality
and usefulness of a dedicated private network, at a price
savings.
Application: A highly flexible method of communicating between
locations via a secure tunnel on a large public network. Is
becoming an increasingly popular alternative to Frame Relay and
Private Line.
Pros: A user can access the network from any Internet
connection. VPNs often cost less and are more flexible and
scaleable than competing technologies.
Cons: The availability and performance of a company’s WAN is
largely dependant on factors outside of their control.
Costs: VPN prices mirror that of dial-up or dedicated Internet
Access. Cost of the VPN tunneling and encrypting is nominal.
Expect to spend a few $100 at least for a stable, reliable
system.
