Which WAN technology relies on virtual circuits and point-to-multipoint connections and uses packet switching?

Which WAN technology relies on virtual circuits and point-to-multipoint connections and uses packet switching?

• A. Ethernet WAN
• B. Frame Relay
• C. PPP
• D. MPLS

Answer: (B)

Frame Relay is built around virtual circuits that ride over a single physical WAN connection. It creates logical connections—PVCs or SVCs—that allow multiple sites to share the same network, which gives you a point-to-multipoint layout. Data travels as packets (frames) and is switched through the Frame Relay cloud rather than using a dedicated path. Each virtual circuit is identified by a Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI), letting the network know which destination a frame is meant for. This combination—virtual circuits plus multipoint connectivity over a packet-switched network—is what makes Frame Relay the right fit for the description. Ethernet WANs are typically about transporting Ethernet frames over WAN links rather than relying on virtual circuits. PPP is designed for a direct, point-to-point link rather than multipoint sharing. MPLS also uses packet switching with label-switched paths and can support multipoint and virtual paths, but the traditional framing and PVC concept are hallmarks of Frame Relay, which is why it’s the best answer here.

Frame Relay is built around virtual circuits that ride over a single physical WAN connection. It creates logical connections—PVCs or SVCs—that allow multiple sites to share the same network, which gives you a point-to-multipoint layout. Data travels as packets (frames) and is switched through the Frame Relay cloud rather than using a dedicated path. Each virtual circuit is identified by a Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI), letting the network know which destination a frame is meant for. This combination—virtual circuits plus multipoint connectivity over a packet-switched network—is what makes Frame Relay the right fit for the description.

Ethernet WANs are typically about transporting Ethernet frames over WAN links rather than relying on virtual circuits. PPP is designed for a direct, point-to-point link rather than multipoint sharing. MPLS also uses packet switching with label-switched paths and can support multipoint and virtual paths, but the traditional framing and PVC concept are hallmarks of Frame Relay, which is why it’s the best answer here.