Understanding WAN

Technologies
Wide-Area Network
Need for WANs
WANs vs. LANs
WAN Access and the OSI Reference
Model
WAN Devices

 Routers
 Terminal servers
 Modems
 DSU/CSU
 WAN networking devices
– ATM switches
– Frame Relay switches
– PSTN
Role of the Modem

The modems connect digital computers,or routers WAN interfaces

to the digital telco network via analog local loops. When the telco
switch receives the modem's analog signal, it must encode the
signal so that it can traverse the digital network.
Physical Layer: WANs
Serial Point-to-Point Connections
 DTE and DCE Cables

DCE Cable
DTE Cable
(Female)
(Male)
Generally Used in Lab.
• If two DTEs must be connected together, like two computers or two routers in the lab, a
special cable called a null-modem is necessary to eliminate the need for a DCE.
• For synchronous connections, where a clock signal is needed, either an external device or
one of the DTEs must generate the clock signal.
• To support higher densities in a smaller form factor, Cisco has introduced a smart serial
cable.
• The serial end of the smart serial cable is a 26-pin connector significantly more compact than
the DB-60 connector.
WAN—Multiple LANs
WAN Data-Link Protocols

 HDLC
 PPP
 Frame Relay (LAPF)
 ATM
WAN Link Options
Summary

 There are three major characteristics of a WAN: connection of

devices that are separated by wide geographical distances; use of
the services of carriers, such as telephone companies, cable
companies, satellite systems, and network providers; and use of
serial connections of various types to access bandwidth over large
geographic areas.
 Many businesses and homes require communication among remote
users, including Communication between users in remote company
locations, data-sharing among different organizations, access to
corporate information by traveling workers, and access to the
Internet.
Summary (Cont.)

 LANs connect computers, peripherals, and other devices in a

single building or other small geographic area; WANs transmit
data across broad geographic distances.
 A company, organization, or individual must subscribe to an
outside WAN service provider to use WAN network services,
while LANs are typically owned by the company, organization, or
individual that uses them.
 WAN access functions in relation to the OSI reference model; the
WAN function focuses primarily on Layer 1 and Layer 2.
Summary (Cont.)

 The major types of devices used for WAN access environments

include routers, communication servers, modems (DSU/CSUs),
and other networking devices such as Frame Relay and PSTN
switches.
 Routers have both LAN and WAN interfaces, and while a router is
used to segment LANs, it is also used as the WAN connection
device.
 The data link layer-based protocols define how data is
encapsulated for transmission toward remote sites in a WAN
environment and the mechanisms for transferring the resulting
frames. A variety of technologies, such as ISDN, Frame Relay, or
ATM are used.
Configuring Serial
Encapsulation
Circuit Switching
Public Switched Telephone Network
PSTN Considerations

Advantages
 Simplicity
 Availability
 Cost
Disadvantages
 Low data rates
 Relatively long connection setup time
Leased Line
WAN Connection Bandwidth
 Configuring a Serial Interface

RouterX#configure terminal
Enter global RouterX(config)#
configuration mode.

RouterX(config)#interface serial 0/0/0

Specify interface.
RouterX(config-if)#

Set clock rate RouterX(config-if)#clock rate 64000

(on DCE interfaces only). RouterX(config-if)#

RouterX(config-if)#bandwidth 64
Set bandwidth RouterX(config-if)#exit
(recommended). RouterX(config)#exit
RouterX#
Serial Interface show controller
Command

Shows the serial cable type

Point-to-Point Considerations

Advantages
 Simplicity
 Quality
 Availability
Disadvantages
 Cost
 Limited flexibility
HDLC and Cisco HDLC
Configuring HDLC Encapsulation

RouterX(config-if)# encapsulation hdlc

 Enables Cisco HDLC encapsulation

 Uses the default encapsulation on synchronous serial
interfaces
Leased Line
PPP
An Overview of PPP

 PPP can carry packets from several protocol suites

using NCP.
 PPP controls the setup of several link options using LCP.
Enable PPP Encapsulation

RouterX(config-if)# encapsulation ppp

 Enables PPP encapsulation

 PPP Configuration Example

hostname left hostname right

! !
int serial 0 int serial 0
ip address 10.0.1.1 255.255.255.0 ip address 10.0.1.2 255.255.255.0
encapsulation ppp encapsulation ppp
 Verifying a Serial Interface Configuration
RouterX# show interface s0/0/0
Serial0/0/0 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is HD64570
Internet address is 10.140.1.2/24
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1544 Kbit, DLY 20000 usec, rely 255/255, load 1/255
Encapsulation PPP, loopback not set, keepalive set (10 sec)
LCP Open
Open: IPCP, CDPCP
Last input 00:00:05, output 00:00:05, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue 0/40, 0 drops; input queue 0/75, 0 drops
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
38021 packets input, 5656110 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 23488 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored, 0 abort
38097 packets output, 2135697 bytes, 0 underruns
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 6045 interface resets
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
482 carrier transitions
DCD=up DSR=up DTR=up RTS=up CTS=up
 Verifying the HDLC and PPP
Encapsulation Configuration
RouterX# show interface s0/0/0
Serial0/0/0 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is HD64570
Internet address is 10.140.1.2/24
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1544 Kbit, DLY 20000 usec, rely 255/255, load 1/255
Encapsulation PPP, loopback not set, keepalive set (10 sec)
LCP Open
Open: IPCP, CDPCP
Last input 00:00:05, output 00:00:05, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue 0/40, 0 drops; input queue 0/75, 0 drops
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
38021 packets input, 5656110 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 23488 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored, 0 abort
38097 packets output, 2135697 bytes, 0 underruns
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 6045 interface resets
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
482 carrier transitions
DCD=up DSR=up DTR=up RTS=up CTS=up
Frame Relay
Frame Relay Devices and Virtual Circuits
ATM and Cell Switching
Summary

 A point-to-point (or serial) line can connect two geographically

distant sites. These lines are usually leased from a carrier and
are, therefore, often called leased lines.
 Bandwidth refers to the rate at which data is transferred over the
communication link. In North America, point-to-point leased-line
bandwidth is typically specified as a DS number (DS0, DS1, and
so forth) that technically refers to the rate and format of the signal.
 The HDLC protocol is one of two major data link layer protocols
commonly used with point-to-point WAN connections. HDLC
supports both point-to-point and multipoint configurations.
 The encapsulation hdlc interface configuration command can be
used to specify Cisco HDLC encapsulation on the interface.
 PPP lower-level functions use synchronous and asynchronous
physical media. PPP higher-level functions carry packets from
several network layer protocols using NCPs.
Summary (Cont.)
 The encapsulation ppp interface configuration command can be
used to specify PPP encapsulation on the interface.
 The show interface command can be used to verify proper
configuration of PPP encapsulation.
 Frame Relay data rates are commonly up to 4 Mb/s, with some
providers offering even higher rates. Frame Relay is a simpler
protocol that works at the data link layer rather than at the network
layer.
 ATM is a type of cell-switched connection technology that is capable
of transferring voice, video, and data through private and public
networks. ATM is used primarily in service-provider networks and
enterprise LAN backbones.
 ATM virtual circuits can be either PVCs or SVCs.
Enabling the Internet
Connection
Packet Switching
DSL
DSL Service Types Overview
DSL Considerations

Advantages
 Speed
 Simultaneous voice and data transmission
 Incremental additions
 Always-on availability
 Backward compatibility with analog phones
Disadvantages
 Limited availability
 Local phone company requirements
 Security risks
Cable-Based WANs
The Global Internet
Getting an Interface Address from a
DHCP Server

 No manual IP address is configured on the interface.

 The router operates as a DHCP client.
 The ISP provides DHCP information.
Network Address Translation

 An IP address is either local or global.

 Local IP addresses are seen in the inside network.
 Global IP addresses are seen in the outside network.
 Assignment can be static or dynamic.
We will in detail later
Gathering the Required Information
Summary

 Packet-switched networks send data packets over different

routes of a shared public network owned by a carrier to reach
the same destination. The route that the packets take to reach
the destination site, however, will vary.
 There are several varieties of DSL, including ADSL, SDSL,
HDSL, IDSL, and CDSL. There are both advantages (speed,
always on, and so on) and disadvantages (availability)
to DSL.
 Cable access to the Internet has become a higher-speed
alternative to DSL and serial.
 The global Internet grew from a U.S. Department of Defense
plan to build a command-and-control network in the 1960s to its
present state as the largest WAN on earth, with multiple ways to
access it and multiple communication, research, and commercial
uses.
 An interface can obtain its IP address from a DHCP server.