Using Visio 2000 AutoDiscovery and Layout on a Frame Relay Network

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Published: October 1, 2001

Visimation, Inc.
Microsoft Certified Partner

Applies to:
Microsoft Visio Enterprise 2000

Summary: Step-by-step guide to using Visio 2000 Enterprise AutoDiscovery and Layout (AD&L) to create and update device information for a Frame Relay network.

For the latest information, please see https://www.microsoft.com/office/visio

On This Page

About This article
Introduction
Before You Begin
Managing AutoDiscovery Frame Relay Information
Generating a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) Summary
Additional Information

About This article

This article provides a step-by-step guide to using Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition AutoDiscovery and Layout (AD&L) to create and update device information for a Frame Relay network. Most of the examples in this article use a sample database that ships with Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition, called NeuCom, to show listing, creating, editing and reporting of Frame Relay information.

If you are just getting starting with the AutoDiscovery and Layout solution, the Step-by-Step Guide to Diagramming your Network with Microsoft Visio Enterprise 2000 article provides a simple walk-through of AD&L, including screen shots.

Introduction

Frame Relay is a high performance, packet-switched Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol, operating at the data and physical link layers of the OSI reference model. Network carriers or private telecommunications service providers typically operate Frame Relay networks, and a company or organization generally leases Frame Relay lines from a service provider.

AutoDiscovery identifies your Frame Relay network devices during the Discovery process. While you cannot visually distinguish Frame Relay devices from other router devices in an AutoDiscovery network diagram, you can view a device's properties on the Network Shape Properties dialog box, which includes a Frame Relay tab. You can also list or edit data link connection identifiers (DLCIs), circuits, and change the committed information rate (CIR) values. The Network Reporting tool provides the ability to generate a number of reports, including a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) Summary that lists information on the capacity of a specific Frame Relay circuit, the Frame Relay circuit endpoints, and a summary of the bandwidth distribution across the network.

Before You Begin

This step-by-step guide uses the NeuCom sample database provided with Visio 2000 Enterprise to illustrate the following tasks:

  • Viewing discovered Frame Relay Devices

  • Listing the Data Link Connection Identifiers (DLCI)

  • Changing the Committed Information Rate (CIR)

  • Generating a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) Summary report

Installing the NeuCom Database

Start by verifying that the Samples directory is installed on your system. The directory is located in your Program files\Visio\Samples\Network Diagram folder if it was installed during product installation. If it is not in the Visio folder, you must install it.

To install the Visio 2000 sample databases

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.

  2. Insert your Visio 2000 Enterprise CD. Click Microsoft Visio 2000, click Change and choose to add the Sample Drawings through the Visio Installation Manager.

The samples databases are now available for use. Ensure the AutoDiscovery menu is available on the main menu.

To open AutoDiscovery if the menu is not displayed

  • On the File menu, point to New, point to Network Diagram, and then click AutoDiscovery and Layout.

Retrieving the NeuCom Sample Database

  1. On the AutoDiscovery menu, point to Configuration, and click Manage Database.

  2. In the Manage Database dialog box, select NeuCom_net from the Database name list and click OK.

If NeuCom_net database is not displayed in the Database name list

  1. Click Retrieve on the Manage Database dialog box.

  2. In the Retrieve dialog box, click Look Up. Browse through the Program Files\ Visio\Samples\Network Diagram directory to find and select NeuCom_net.mdf. Click Open and click OK.

  3. In the Manage Database dialog box, select the Show list of available databases when creating a diagram option, and click OK.

Note: The Select Database dialog box appears when you start AutoDiscovery and Layout if the Show list of available databases when creating a diagram option is selected and multiple databases are available.

The NeuCom database is now available for use. This database contains a lot of data. You may need to change the paper size of your diagram if you create a diagram that is large and complex.

To change the paper size of your diagram

  • On the File menu, click Page Setup, and select the Page Size tab.

  • Click Pre-defined size and select ANSI Architectural and 24-in x 18-in from the two list boxes.

  • Select Landscape for Page orientation, and then click OK.

Managing AutoDiscovery Frame Relay Information

AutoDiscovery discovers your Frame Relay routers during the Discovery process. After Discovery completes, use the Database Viewer to view the device properties collected during Discovery. You can also list or edit data link connection identifiers (DLCIs) and circuits, and change the committed information rate (CIR) for single or multiple devices.

Using the Database Viewer to see Frame Relay Device Information

The Database Viewer displays the contents of the currently active database. You can select individual devices from the Database Viewer, and drag them to your drawing page to begin a network diagram.

To open the Database Viewer

  1. On the AutoDiscovery menu, point to Database Viewer and then click Open to see the devices in the NeuCom database. You can also open the Database Viewer by clicking on the Database Viewer button on the AutoDiscovery and Layout toolbar.

  2. Expand the Routers group in the left side of the Database Viewer by clicking the plus sign (+). Click the Seattle router and drag the router into the center of the diagram.

  3. Right-click the router to display the shortcut menu. Click Properties to display the Network Shape Properties dialog box and select the Frame Relay tab. The DLCI and CIR values are displayed for each interface connected to the Seattle router. This is shown in Figure 1.

  4. Click OK to close the Network Shape Properties dialog box.

    Cc751337.vis_fr01(en-us,TechNet.10).gif

    Figure 1: Frame Relay information in the Network Shape Properties dialog box

A data link connection identifier (DLCI) is a number assigned to a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) endpoint in a Frame Relay network. Frame relay circuits logically link two DLCIs, and each DLCI of a pair uniquely identifies a PVC endpoint within a local access channel of a Frame Relay network. For example, a DLCI value is unique to a single Frame Relay virtual circuit between two DTE (data terminal equipment) devices, but may not be unique across the whole Frame Relay network.

The List DLCIs command lists the DLCIs that are connected to a selected device, and is only displayed if a router is a Frame Relay router. AutoDiscovery can automatically connect DLCI endpoints. However, it is unable to associate both endpoints for each DLCI circuit automatically. You must use the Create Circuits command to specify the other endpoint for each DLCI.

To use the List DLCI command to select and list DLCIs

  1. Right-click the Seattle router on the network diagram and click List DLCIs from the shortcut menu. The Select DLCIs for: Seattle dialog box is displayed, listing each Interface and its DLCI, Endpoint Device, Endpoint Interface, and Endpoint DLCI.

    Cc751337.vis_fr02(en-us,TechNet.10).gif

    Figure 2: Choose the DLCI(s) from the Select DLCIs dialog box

  2. On the Select DLCIs for: Seattle dialog box, click Sel/3 interface (Tokyo Endpoint Device) and select Left for Relative orientation. Click OK. This places the Sel/3 interface on the diagram to the left of the Seattle router.

  3. Right-click the Seattle router and click List DLCIs from the shortcut menu. In the Select DLCI dialog box, select all of the listed interfaces and select Right for Relative orientation. Click OK.

All of the Seattle router DLCIs connections are now displayed on the network diagram.

Changing the Committed Information Rate (CIR)

The Committed Information Rate (CIR) is the minimum transmission speed between computers in Frame Relay networks. The CIR value for a virtual circuit is stored in the Frame Relay Management Information Base (MIB) and is set to zero.

To use the Edit DLCIs and Edit Circuit commands to change CIR values

  1. Right-click the Seattle router and click Edit DLCIs from the shortcut menu.

  2. On the Edit DLCI Information dialog box, note that all the DLCIs for the Seattle router have a CIR of 1.544 Mbps (T-1 line). Change the DLCI value in one of two ways:

    • By clicking on a Router interface and entering a new value in the DLCI box.

    • By selecting a new value from the CIR (Committed Information Rate): list. You can change the CIR value for multiple routers by first selecting the routers to change, choosing a new value and then clicking Set CIR For All Selected DLCS.

  3. Click Cancel to exit without accepting any changes, unless you want to modify the values shipped with the NeuCom sample database.

Creating Frame Relay Circuits

You can use the Create Circuits dialog box to connect or disconnect two DLCIs, or to change a circuit name.

To create frame relay circuits

  1. Right-click a Frame Relay router and click Create Circuits from the shortcut menu.

    The Create Circuits dialog box displays, shown in Figure 3. The right side of the Create Circuits dialog box shows the current DLCIs associated with the selected router, or Context router. The left side lists all the routers that are on the other side of a cloud to which the selected router may be connected, also called Destination routers.

    Figure 3: Create Circuits dialog box

    Figure 3: Create Circuits dialog box

  2. On the Create Circuits dialog box, locate your destination routers by clicking Load All Frame Relay Routers, or click Search for Router and specify an IP address.

  3. Select a router from the Destination Routers pane, and the DLCIs associated with that router appear. If a circuit currently exists between two DLCIs, a bitmap appears in the associated table cell.

  4. In the DLCIs contained in the selected routers pane, click a destination router's DLCI cell to connect that DLCI to the Seattle router DLCI. Click OK.

To disconnect two DLCIs, click in the cell again.

Right-clicking the circuit allows you to change the circuit name in the Circuit Name field.

Changing Frame Relay Circuit Values

You can change endpoint DLCI values, circuit names and the CIR link speed for each endpoint on the Edit Circuits dialog box.

To edit Frame Relay circuit values

  1. Right-click the Seattle router and click Edit Circuits from the shortcut menu.

    Cc751337.vis_fr04(en-us,TechNet.10).gif

    Figure 4: The Edit Circuits dialog box

  2. On the Edit Circuits dialog box, shown in Figure 4, select three circuits: (1) the Seattle to Fargo circuit, (2) the Seattle to Frankfurt circuit, and (3) Seattle to Tokyo Circuits.

    Note: Press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key while you are clicking each circuit to select all three circuits simultaneously.

  3. In the CIR committed information rate field, select Symmetric at 1.544 Mbps (T-1), and click Change CIR for Selected Items.

  4. Click Cancel to exit without accepting any changes, unless you want to modify the values shipped with the NeuCom sample database.

Generating a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) Summary

You can generate a Frame Relay PVC Summary report that lists all Frame Relay circuits found in the database, including information on the capacity of a specific Frame Relay circuit, the Frame Relay circuit endpoints, and a summary of the bandwidth distribution across the network.

To generate a PVC Summary

  1. On the AutoDiscovery menu, point to Network Reporting, and click Report Wizard to display the Network Reporting Wizard dialog box.

  2. Click Next and select the All Shapes in the NeuCom_net database. Click Next.

    Note: You must select the All Shapes in the NeuCom_net database option in order to generate a PVC Summary. If you select to limit the scope, the list of available reports does not include the PVC Summary.

  3. Scroll down and select the PVC Summary option, shown in Figure 5, and click Next.

    Figure 5: Select the reports from the Network Reporting Wizard dialog box

    Figure 5: Select the reports from the Network Reporting Wizard dialog box

  4. Click Create as unsaved Visio documents and click Finish.

    Creating the Frame Relay PVC Summary report as an unsaved Visio document provides a snapshot view of the current status, but does not save the report to a file.

    Figure 6: Choose whether to create the report as saved or unsaved Visio documents

    Figure 6: Choose whether to create the report as saved or unsaved Visio documents

PVC Summary Report Information

An example of the Frame Relay PVC Summary report for the NeuCom database is shown in Figure 7. The PVC summary report information is shown in Table 1.

Figure 7: An example of a Frame Relay PVC Summary report

Figure 7: An example of a Frame Relay PVC Summary report

Table 1 PVC Summary Report information

Field

Description

Source

The source device connected to the circuit.

Port

The physical port name connected to the source circuit.

DLCI

The data-link connection identifier (DLCI) for the source circuit.

CIR

The committed information rate (CIR) for the circuit.
Unknown is displayed if a CIR value is not set.

Destination

The destination device connected to the circuit.

Port

The port for the destination circuit.

DLCI

The DLCI for the destination circuit.

Circuit Name

The name of the circuit, which is created automatically. You can rename it in the Edit DLCI dialog box.

Additional Information

The following resources provide more information on Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition AutoDiscovery, and the networking protocols and architectures discussed within this article.

  • TechNet Technology Center for Microsoft Visio

  • Microsoft Visio Network Center is a Web-based service on Microsoft.com where you can find the latest Visio network diagramming solutions, an up-to-date library of manufacturer-specific network equipment shapes, and case studies, white papers, and sample diagrams.

  • Microsoft Visio Developer Center on MSDN Online

  • Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition User Guide.

  • Computer Networks & Internets, Douglas E. Comer and Ralph E. Droms, Prentice Hall Publications, 2001.

  • Interconnections, Second Edition, Radia Pearlman. Addison Wesley publisher, 1999.

  • Internetworking with TCP/IP, Vol. 1: Principles, Protocols and Architecture, Douglas E. Comer, Prentice Hall Publications, 2000.

  • Practical Guide to Snmpv3 and Network Management, David Zeltserman, Prentice Hall Publications, 1999.

About Visimation

Visimation is a Microsoft Certified Partner who specializes in Microsoft Visio consulting, custom development, training, and services.