SLA parameters approved

The Frame Relay Forum has approved of a set of standard parameters that should enable customers to strike more meaningful service-level agreements (SLA) with their service providers (see our June 26, 1998 report).

The FRF.13 Frame Relay Forum Service-Level Definition (SLD) Implementation Agreement, released to the public on October 5, specifies a high-level, standard reference model that depicts the various components in a basic frame relay network, where they reside and how far they stretch. For example, the SLD provides standard definitions of such terms as ''egress node'' and ''end-to-end'' so that users and service providers all know they are talking in consistent terms. The SLD also defines the network characteristics to be measured under an SLA. Such definitions will give users the ability to compare apples to apples when evaluating frame relay service providers and measuring the quality of the services they receive. The common base will also enable them to also enforce contractual commitments.

Enforcing guarantees has been difficult because customers and service providers often use different criteria, tools and time intervals for measuring the same parameter. The definitions aim to specify exactly what is covered in a SLA so that all parties are on the same page.

Network service providers and equipment vendors can use the SLD to plan, describe, and evaluate frame relay offerings in a consistent way. The definitions apply to both permanent virtual circuits (PVC) and switched virtual circuits (SVC). They address the following network and SLA characteristics:

• Frame transfer delay
• Frame delivery ratio
• Data delivery ratio
• Service availability on a per-PVC basis (with per-port definitions possibly to come)

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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.

The implementation agreement:
(requires Acrobat Reader)

Forum aims to clean up SLA terminology:
The newsletter referred to above. Network World Fusion.