Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What is the logical end-to-end communication path called between two DTE devices on a Frame Relay network?

1. Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC)

2. Virtual Circuit (VC)

3. Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC)

4. Dedicated Circuit (DC)

The correct answer is: Virtual Circuit (VC)

The logical end-to-end communication path between two Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) devices on a Frame Relay network is known as a Virtual Circuit (VC). This term broadly encompasses both permanent and switched configurations of connections within a Frame Relay environment. A Virtual Circuit can refer to a dedicated path set up for ongoing communication, as seen with Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs), or it can denote dynamically established connections with Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs). The key point is that VCs represent the abstract communication pathways that facilitate the transfer of data over the Frame Relay infrastructure. While PVCs provide a constant, pre-configured route that doesn’t change, SVCs allow for the dynamic establishment of connections only when needed. However, both types fall under the general concept of Virtual Circuits, making the designation of a Virtual Circuit appropriate for the logical connection aspect of the inquiry.