Assignment on Wide Area Networks (WAN)

BTIT/614J/2021 DENIS KIONGO

BTIT/617J/2021 NELSON SATIA

BTIT/578J/2021 CHARLES MWANYALO

BTIT/649J/2021 NEWTON NYAMBATI

BTIT/618J/2021 PENWELL MUHENGE

Part 1: Introduction to Wide Area Networks (WAN)

1. Define a Wide Area Network (WAN). How does it differ from Local Area Networks
(LAN) and Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)?

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that spans a large geographical area, often
connecting multiple smaller networks such as LANs and MANs. It enables communication and
data exchange between devices across cities, countries, or even continents.

LAN (Local Area Network):** Covers a small area like a single building or campus. It has high
data transfer rates and is typically owned by a single organization.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network):** Covers a larger area than a LAN, such as a city or a
large campus. It connects multiple LANs and is often used by service providers.

WAN Covers the largest geographical area, often using leased lines or satellite links. It connects
multiple LANs and MANs and is typically owned by multiple organizations or service providers.
 2. Discuss the key components of a WAN, including:

Routers -Devices that forward data packets between networks, ensuring data reaches its
destination.

Switches -Devices that connect multiple devices within a network and direct data to the correct
destination.

Modems -Devices that modulate and demodulate signals for transmission over telephone lines or
other media.

Multiplexers Devices that combine multiple signals into one for transmission over a shared
medium.

Transmission media (e.g., fiber optic, satellite, leased lines) -Physical paths for data transmission,
such as fiber optic cables, satellite links, and leased lines.

3. Explain the different WAN technologies used for data transmission, including:

Leased Lines -Dedicated point-to-point connections with fixed bandwidth, providing high
reliability and performance.

Frame Relay -A packet-switching technology that transmits data in frames, offering cost-
effective solutions for intermittent data traffic.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) -A high-speed switching technology that transmits data in
fixed-size cells, suitable for voice, video, and data.

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) -A protocol that directs data based on labels, improving
speed and efficiency in traffic routing.

SD-WAN (Software-Defined WAN) -A virtualized approach to WAN management that uses

software to control network traffic, improving flexibility and reducing costs.

4. Differentiate between packet switching and circuit switching in the context of WAN.
Provide an example of each and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Packet Switching: Data is broken into packets and sent independently over the network. Each
packet can take a different route. Example: Internet (IP networks).

Advantages: Efficient use of bandwidth, scalable, and cost-effective.

Disadvantages: Potential for packet loss or delay.

Circuit Switching: A dedicated communication path is established for the duration of the session.
Example: Traditional telephone networks.

Advantages: Guaranteed bandwidth and low latency.

Disadvantages: Inefficient use of bandwidth and higher costs.

Part 2: WAN Protocols and Standards

5. Discuss the following WAN protocols and explain their role in data transmission:

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) -A protocol used for direct communication between two nodes,
commonly used for dial-up connections.

High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) -A protocol for transmitting data over point-to-point and
multipoint links, often used in leased lines.

X.25 -An older packet-switching protocol used for reliable data transmission over WANs.

MPLS -A protocol that improves traffic routing by using labels to direct data packets.

Internet Protocol (IP) -The primary protocol for routing data across the internet and WANs.

6. Explain how Virtual Private Networks (VPN) work over WANs. Discuss the security
protocols involved, such as IPsec and SSL.

VPNs create a secure, encrypted tunnel over a public or private WAN, allowing remote users to
access the network as if they were locally connected.

Security Protocols
IPsec (Internet Protocol Security): Provides encryption and authentication for secure data
transmission.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): Encrypts data between a client and server commonly used for web-
based VPNs.

7. Describe the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and explain how WAN
technologies map to different layers of the OSI model.

The OSI model is a conceptual framework with seven layers: Physical, Data Link, Network,
Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application.

Physical Layer: Transmission media like fiber optics and satellite links.

Data Link Layer: Protocols like HDLC and PPP.

Network Layer: IP and MPLS for routing.

Transport Layer: TCP and UDP for data delivery.

Part 3: WAN Topologies and Design

8. Describe the following WAN topologies and provide an example of where each might
be used:

Point-to-Point -A direct connection between two sites. Example: Connecting a branch office to
headquarters.

Hub-and-Spoke -A central hub connects to multiple spokes (branch offices). Example: A retail
chain with a central warehouse.

Mesh (Full and Partial) -Every site is connected to every other site (full) or

some sites are interconnected (partial). Example: A financial institution with high redundancy
requirements.

Hybrid -A combination of different topologies. Example: A multinational corporation with a

mix of hub-and-spoke and mesh connections.
 9. Discuss the factors that influence WAN design, including:
o Bandwidth requirements -The amount of data that needs to be transmitted.
o
o Latency -The time it takes for data to travel from source to destination.
o
o Security -Measures to protect data from unauthorized access.
o
o Reliability -Ensuring minimal downtime and high availability.
o
o Cost -Balancing performance with budget constraints.

10. Design a WAN infrastructure for a multinational company with the following
requirements:

 Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya

 Branch offices in London, New York, and Dubai
 Data center located in Frankfurt, Germany
 Secure communication between all locations
 Minimum downtime and high availability

Provide a diagram and justify the choice of topology, technology, and protocols.

Technology: MPLS for reliable and secure data transmission.

Protocols: IPsec for secure communication, QoS for managing bandwidth.

Diagram: A central hub in Frankfurt connects to Nairobi, London, New York,

and Dubai. Critical locations like London and New York have direct mesh connections for
redundancy.
Part 4: Performance and Security in WAN

11. Discuss the importance of Quality of Service (QoS) in WAN communication. How can
QoS be implemented to manage bandwidth and latency issues?

QoS ensures that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and low latency. It can be
implemented using traffic prioritization, bandwidth allocation, and congestion management.

12. Explain the role of encryption in securing data over a WAN. Provide an example of an
encryption protocol used in WANs.

Encryption protects data from interception and unauthorized access. Example: IPsec encrypts
data packets for secure transmission.

13. Discuss the impact of latency and jitter on WAN performance. How can network
administrators reduce these issues?

Latency: Delays in data transmission, affecting real-time applications like VoIP.

Jitter: Variability in packet arrival times, causing disruptions in video and audio streams.

Use QoS, optimize routing, and implement WAN optimization techniques.

14. Describe the concept of WAN optimization and provide two techniques that can
improve WAN performance.

WAN optimization improves performance by reducing bandwidth usage and latency.

Techniques

Data Deduplication: Eliminates redundant data to reduce bandwidth usage.

Compression: Reduces the size of data packets for faster transmission.

15. Explain the concept of load balancing in WAN networks and describe how it improves
reliability and performance.
Load balancing distributes network traffic across multiple paths to improve reliability and
performance. It ensures no single link is overwhelmed, reducing downtime and improving user
experience

Part 5: Case Study and Real-World Applications

16. Case Study:

A company is expanding its operations to three new international locations. The company
needs to set up a WAN to connect all offices securely and ensure fast communication.

 Recommend an appropriate WAN topology and justify your choice.

Hub-and-Spoke with Mesh for critical connections.

 Suggest the most suitable WAN technology for data transmission.

SD-WAN for cost-effective and flexible data transmission.

 Propose security measures to protect data and ensure network integrity.

IPsec VPNs, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.

 Explain how to implement redundancy to prevent network failure.

Implement multiple connections and failover mechanisms.

17. Discuss the impact of SD-WAN on modern networking. How does it improve flexibility,
cost, and performance in comparison to traditional WAN?
SD-WAN improves flexibility by allowing dynamic traffic routing, reduces costs by using
cheaper internet links, and enhances performance through intelligent traffic management.

18. Explain the challenges of implementing WAN in developing countries. How can these
challenges be addressed?

Challenges include limited infrastructure, high costs, and unreliable connectivity. Solutions
include using satellite links, partnering with local ISPs, and implementing cost-effective
technologies like SD-WAN.

19. Provide a real-world example of a WAN used in a global corporation. Discuss the
architecture, performance, and security measures used.

Amazon's WAN connects its data centers and offices worldwide using MPLS and SD-WAN
technologies. It ensures high availability, low latency, and secure communication.

20. Discuss the future of WAN with the rise of 5G and satellite-based internet. How will
these technologies impact WAN design and performance?

5G - Will provide high-speed, low-latency connections, enabling more efficient WANs.

Satellite Internet - Will expand WAN coverage to remote areas, improving global connectivity.

References

Cisco. (2023). What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)? Retrieved from https://www.cisco.com

Forouzan, B. A. (2013). *Data Communications and Networking (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill

Education.

Gartner. (2023). Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Market Guide. Retrieved from

https://www.gartner.com
Stallings, W. (2020). Data and Computer Communications (11th ed.). Pearson.

Tanenbaum, A. S., & Wetherall, D. J. (2021). Computer Networks (6th ed.). Pearson.

Assessment Criteria

Criterion Marks Description

Understanding of WAN
20 Clear definition and explanation of key WAN concepts
Concepts

Accurate explanation of WAN protocols and

Protocols and Standards 20
technologies

Design and Topology 20 Logical WAN design with justified choices

Performance and Security 20 Effective analysis of performance and security issues

Case Study and Application 20 Well-structured response with clear recommendations

Total Marks: 100