Chapter 1: WAN Concepts

Connecting Networks

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 1.1 WAN Technologies
Overview

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WAN Technology Overview
 WANs connect LANs: it operates beyond the geographical scope of a LAN.
• Connects remote sites to the enterprise network.
• Connects home users to the Internet.
 WAN is owned by a service provider.

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Purpose of WANs

Small Office

Campus Network

Distributed Network
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Common WAN Topologies
Point-to-Point Hub-and-Spoke

Dual-Homed
Full Mesh

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WAN and OSI Model
WAN access standards typically describe both
physical layer delivery methods and data link
layer requirements, including:

• physical addressing
• flow control
• encapsulation.

Standards:

• TIA/EIA (former CCITT)

• ISO
• IEEE

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WAN Terminology

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WAN Devices

 Dialup modem
 Access server
 Broadband modem
 CSU/DSU (Channel
Service Unit / Data Service
Unit)
 WAN switch
 Router
 Core router / Multilayer
switch

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Circuit Switching and Packet Switching

Circuit-Switched Packet-Switched

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 1.2 Selecting a WAN
Technology

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WAN Link Connection Options

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ISP Network Infrastructure

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WAN Infrastructures: Leased Lines
Advantages: Disadvantages: T1 1,544 Mb/s
 Simplicity  Cost E1 2,048 Mb/s
T3 43,7 Mb/s
 Quality  Limited flexibility
E3 34,368 Mb/s
 Availability

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Dense Wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM)
 Bidirectional communication
 Signal transmitted over a specific
wavelength (frequency)
 10 Gbps per channel
 80 channels per a single fiber
 SONET/SDH standards

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Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN)

ISDN BRI ISDN PRI

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Frame Relay
 Packet-switching technology
 NBMA connection
 Up to 4 Mb/s
 Architecture
 Edge routers, Access links
 FR switches
 Permanent Virtual Channels
(PVC)
 PVCs identified by a data-link
connection identifier (DLCI).
 PVCs and DLCIs ensure
bidirectional communication
from one DTE device to
another.
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Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
• Cell-based architecture: cells of a fixed length of 53 bytes (5 + 48)
• Up to 622 Mb/s (OC-12)
• Virtual paths (VP) and Virtual channels (VC)
• Switching based on VPI/VCI

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 Ethernet WAN
 Switched high-bandwidth L2 technology
 Easy integration with existing LANs

 Ethernet using fiber-optic cabling

 1000 Base-LX (5 km)
 1000 Base-ZX (70 km)

 Ethernet WAN service:

 Metropolitan Ethernet (MetroE)
 Ethernet over MPLS (EoMPLS)
 Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).

Note: Commonly used to replace the traditional

Frame Relay and ATM WAN links.
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 Multiprotocol Label Switching (MLPS)
• L2 technology that directs packets based on MPLS labels
• Labels identify paths rather than end-points
• Encapsulates IPv4/IPv6, Ethernet, ATM, DLS, Frame Relay traffic
• Used to build MPLS-VPN networks on a ISP site
• Architecture:
• Customer Edge (CE) routers
• Provider Edge (PE) routers
• Internal P routers

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Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)
Private WAN using satellite communications.

Architecture

• VSAT satellite dish

• Router connected to a VSAT
• ISP’s satellite

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Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
 Always-on connection
technology that uses
existing twisted-pair
telephone lines to
transport high-
bandwidth data, and
provides IP services to
subscribers.
 A DSL modem converts
an Ethernet signal from
the user device to a
DSL signal, which is
transmitted to the
central office.

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Cable Modem
 Network access is
available from
some cable
television networks.
 Cable modems
provide an always-
on connection and
a simple
installation.

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Wireless Connection
Wireless
New developments in
broadband wireless technology:
 Municipal Wi-Fi – Many
cities have begun setting up
municipal wireless
 802.16 WiMAX – Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave
Access (WiMAX) is a new
technology that is just
beginning to come into use.
 Satellite Internet - Typically
used by rural users where
cable and DSL are not
available.

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3G/4G Cellular
Common cellular industry terms include:
 3G/4G Wireless – Abbreviation for 3rd generation and 4th
generation cellular access. These technologies support wireless
Internet access.
 Long-Term Evolution (LTE) – A newer and faster technology,
considered to be part of the 4th generation (4G) technology.

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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPN is an encrypted connection btw. private networks over a public network.

 VPN tunnels Two types of VPN:

 L2,L3,L7 technologies  Site-to-site VPNs
 Over public infrastructure  Remote-access VPNs
Site-to-Site Remote-Access

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Choosing a WAN Link Connection
Answer the following questions when choosing a WAN Connection:
 What is the purpose of the WAN?
 What is the geographic scope?
 What are the traffic requirements?

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