Instructor Materials
Chapter 1: WAN Concepts
CCNA Routing and Switching
Connecting Networks
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Chapter 1 - Sections & Objectives
1.1 WAN Technologies Overview
• Explain WAN access technologies available to small to medium-sized
business networks.
1.2 Selecting a WAN Technology
• Select WAN access technologies to satisfy business requirements.
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1.1 WAN Technologies
Overview
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WAN Technologies Overview
Purpose of WANs
WANs connect LANs
WANs are used to connect
remote sites to the
enterprise network.
WANs connect home users
to the Internet.
Enterprise networks are
using security and privacy
solutions over the Internet
to connect remote sites
and users.
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WAN Technologies Overview Point-to-Point
Purpose of WANs
Common WAN topologies are:
• Point-to-Point – Typically a dedicated leased- Hub-and-Spoke
line connection such as T1/E1
• Hub-and-Spoke – A single-homed, point-to-
multipoint topology where a single interface on
the hub router can be shared with multiple
spoke routers through the use of virtual
interfaces Full Mesh
• Full Mesh – Each router has a connection to
every other router; requires a large number of
virtual interfaces
• Dual-homed – Provides redundancy for a Dual-Homed
single-homed, hub-and-spoke topology by
providing a second hub to connect to spoke
routers
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WAN Technologies Overview
Purpose of WANs Small Office
As businesses grow, the topologies and
WAN strategies change:
• Small Office – These businesses typically
consist of one LAN at one location that connects Campus Network
to the Internet through a broadband technology.
• Campus Network – A small- to medium-sized
business with one location and multiple LANs
uses specialized equipment and technologies to
connect to the Internet.
• Branch Networks – As the business grows, it
adds more branch offices, each with its own Distributed Network
campus network. WAN contracts to connect the
remote networks are negotiated.
• Distributed Network – A multinational business
has a network distributed across the globe.
These businesses have complex WAN
strategies to securely connect to regional
offices, branch offices, partners, and
telecommuters.
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WAN Technologies Overview
WAN Operations
WAN operations focus primarily on the physical layer (OSI
Layer 1) and the data link layer (OSI Layer 2).
• Layer 1 protocols describe how to provide electrical,
mechanical, operational, and functional connections
• Layer 2 protocols define how data is encapsulated
WAN Terms include:
• Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) – owned by the
business or leased from the service provider.
• Data Communications Equipment (DCE) – provides an
interface to connect subscribers to a communication link
on the WAN cloud.
• Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) – connects to the local
loop through the DCE.
• Demarcation Point – separates customer equipment
from service provider equipment and is the place where
the responsibility for the connection changes from the
user to the service provider.
• Local Loop – cable that connects the CPE to the CO of
the service provider (last mile).
• Central Office (CO) – local service provider facility or
building that connects the CPE to the provider network.
• Toll network – all the cabling and equipment inside the
WAN provider network.
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WAN Technologies Overview
WAN Operations
WAN devices include:
• Dialup modem – legacy WAN technology that
converts digital signals into voice frequencies to
be transmitted over the analog lines of the public
telephone network.
• Access server – legacy WAN technology that
coordinates dial-in and dial-out user
communications.
• Broadband modem – used with high-speed DSL
or cable Internet service
• CSU/DSU – used to convert digital, leased-line
signals into frames that the LAN can interpret and
vice versa.
• WAN switch – multiport internetworking device
used in service provider networks
• Router – provides internetworking and WAN
access interface ports to connect to the service
provider network
• Core router/Multilayer switch – resides within
the backbone of the WAN, supports multiple
interfaces, and forwards IP packets at full line
speed
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WAN Technologies Overview
WAN Operations Circuit-Switched
WANs can operate as circuit-
switched or packet-switched
networks:
• Circuit-switched Networks –
establish a dedicated circuit
between source and destination
before the users may Packet-Switched
communicate, such as making a
telephone call
• Packet-Switched Networks – split
traffic into packets that are routed
over a shared network and do not
require a dedicated circuit between
source and destination
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1.2 Selecting a WAN
Technology
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Selecting a WAN Technology
WAN Services
Two way that a business
can get WAN access:
Private WAN Infrastructure
• The business negotiates
for dedicated or switched
WAN access with a
service provider.
Public WAN Infrastructure
• WAN access is achieved
through the Internet using
broadband connections.
VPNs secure the
connections.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
WAN Services (cont.)
This topology
illustrates some
of these WAN
access
technologies.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures
Dialup
Advantages: Disadvantages:
Simplicity Cost
Quality Limited flexibility
Availability
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Sample ISDN Topology
ISDN
ISDN BRI ISDN PRI
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Frame Relay
PVCs carry both voice
and data traffic.
PVCs are uniquely
identified by a data-link
connection identifier
(DLCI).
PVCs and DLCIs ensure
bidirectional
communication from one
DTE device to another.
R1 uses DLCI 102 to
reach R2 while R2 uses
DLCI 201 to reach R1.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
ATM
Built on a cell-based architecture, rather than on a frame-based
architecture. ATM cells are always a fixed length of 53 bytes.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Ethernet WAN
Features and Benefits of Ethernet
WAN include:
Reduced expenses and
administration
Easy integration with existing
networks
Enhanced business productivity
Service providers now offer
Ethernet WAN service using
fiber-optic cabling.
Known as Metropolitan Ethernet
(MetroE), Ethernet over MPLS Note: Commonly used to replace the
(EoMPLS), and Virtual Private traditional Frame Relay and ATM WAN
LAN Service (VPLS). links.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
MPLS
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a multiprotocol high-performance
WAN technology that directs data from one router to the next, based on
short path labels rather than IP network addresses.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Private WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
VSAT
Very small aperture
terminal (VSAT) - a
solution that creates a
private WAN using
satellite
communications.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Public WAN Infrastructures
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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Selecting a WAN Technology
Public WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Cable
Network access is
available from
some cable
television networks.
Cable modems
provide an always-
on connection and
a simple
installation.
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Public WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Wireless
New developments in
broadband wireless technology:
Municipal Wi-Fi – Many
cities have begun setting up
municipal wireless
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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Selecting a WAN Technology
Public WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
3G/4G
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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Selecting a WAN Technology
Public WAN Infrastructures (Cont.)
Public WANs rely on VPNs for Site-to-Site
securing data between private
networks as it crosses a public
network, such as the Internet.
Benefits:
• Cost savings
• Security
• Scalability Remote-Access
• Compatibility with broadband
technology
Two types of VPN:
• Site-to-site VPNs
• Remote-access VPNs
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Selecting a WAN Technology
Selecting WAN Services
Answer the following questions when choosing a WAN Connection:
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1.3 Summary
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Chapter Summary
Summary
WAN access standards operate at Layers 1 and 2 of the OSI model.
Permanent, dedicated point-to-point connections are provided by using
leased lines.
Private WAN connections include: Public WAN connections include:
Dialup DSL
ISDN Cable
Frame Relay Wireless
ATM Cellular
Metro Ethernet
MPLS
VSAT
Security over public infrastructure connections can be provided by using
remote-access or site-to-site Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
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