Talk:Frame (networking)

message: After reading this article I am really confused. I simply dont know what a frame is. 
* It says that " (...) a frame is a packet (...)". To me it is not! And not according to the article about [packet].
* The illustration hints that frames are of fixed size, but the article does not say that. I also hints that a frame is definitely not a packet.
* And of what size is a packet?
I believe this article needs a total makeover, untill then stick to the article [packet].
Velle 10:19, 17 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Really confusing article 

message: We have at least four distinct articles covering the same basic topic:
*Frame (networking)
*Datagram
*Network packet
*Protocol data unit
While I appreciate that there may be technical differences between the different terms, I don't think we do readers a good service by having multiple articles on the same general topic. I don't feel so bold as to perform or formally propose a merge but I would like to discuss what we can do to improve WP coverage in this area. --Kvng (talk) 17:39, 3 February 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: I came here after reading in 802.11 the statement The datagrams are called frames.  My understanding, mostly from Ethernet, is that frames are at the hardware (layer 1) level, and packets or datagrams in software, or layer 2 and higher. (Not completely obvious, as some of layer 2 is in hardware.)  I believe that means that we need at least Frame (networking) separate from the rest.  Each should concentrate on its part, and link to the others as much as possible when that makes sense. Gah4 (talk) 06:27, 30 January 2017 (UTC)
replies: text: Ethernet transmissions are definitely done in "frames" at least according to IEEE terminology. Other networking technologies also use this terminology, sometimes in different ways: Frame Relay, Fiber Distributed Data Interface, Token Ring... Some editors want to beleive that there is a simple mapping of terminology to network technology or protocol layers but, the fact is there is not good consensus or consistency in reliable sources about which terms are used in which contexts. I'm more convinced in the 5 years since my original post that readers would be best served by a single article that describes a transmission unit on a packet-based network and describes how the different terminology is used in different contexts. ~Kvng (talk) 15:21, 7 February 2017 (UTC)
replies: text: I suppose I didn't say what I meant quite right. I believe it is ethernet frames, carrying IP packets or datagrams.  At the frame level, it includes preamble, framing bits, (start/stop in asynchronous protocols), CRC, and other things that the software never sees. Gah4 (talk) 17:19, 7 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title: Multiple overlapping articles

message: This page was renamed from "Frame (telecommunications)" to "Frame (networking)" because "Article currently only references frames in networking, not in any other form of telecom.", but, at the time it was renamed, the third paragraph said:
:In telecommunications, specifically time-division multiplex (TDM) and time-division multiple access (TDMA), a frame is a cyclically repeated data block that consists of a fixed number of time slots, one for each logical TDM channel or TDMA transmitter. In this context, a frame is typically an entity at the physical layer. TDM application examples are SONET/SDH and the ISDN circuit switched B-channel. TDMA examples are the 2G and 3G circuit switched cellular voice services. The frame is also an entity for time-division duplex, where the mobile terminal may transmit during some timeslots and receive during others.
which sounds as if it's discussing frames in "other forms of telecom".  Is that not the case?  If it is the case, should the third paragraph be moved to "Frame (telecommunications)", and, perhaps, see also hatnotes added to this page and "Frame (telecommunications)", to point people to the other page (i.e., splitting this page into a page for the two types of framing)? Guy Harris (talk) 19:27, 10 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: Hm, that's a good point.  Frames have somewhat different meanings in computer networking and general telecommunications, though they still represent pretty much the same thing a unit used for reserving time and bandwidth.  Having that in mind, I'd say that splitting off another "Frame (telecommunications)" article would be pretty much an overkill, especially considering the amount of content currently available.  I'd suggest we rename this article to "Frame (data communication)" (or something similar) and call it a day. :) — Dsimic (talk | contribs) 22:22, 10 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text:  Instead of twiddling titles, let's discuss how to better organize this whole topic (See above). ~KvnG 22:35, 10 March 2014 (UTC)

text: I have expanded the lead to discuss the use if frames in TDM systems. It does not appear that a separate Frame (telecommunications) article is required. A frame serves the same purpose in TDM and packet switching applications. ~Kvng (talk) 00:40, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Networking" and "telecommunications" frames?