This read-write object selects which role, dte, dce, or nni, this port performs in the LMI status-polling exchange for this frame relay port. A dte only sends status enquiries, a dce only answers them, and an nni does both, so setting the wrong role, such as dte on both ends of a link, results in neither side ever answering the other's enquiries and every PVC reporting inactive. Connecting this switch to a customer router that expects to talk to a network requires setting this port to dce, while two switches interconnected directly typically need nni on both ends.