Inter Networking

WAN and Internet Access

3/9/2006
manishkulhari@gmail.comCP2073 - Networking

Introduction

What is Wide Area Networking?

How Internet access works

Types of telecommunications services

How to determine Internet access needs

Steps in implementing a WAN connection
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What is Wide Area Networking?

A WAN is a network that is created using the services of the
telephone company to connect LANs separated by large
geographical distances

WANs require the use of special WAN protocols and devices

These protocols are usually part of a companys Internet
access

WANs introduce a new level of complexity to
internetworking such as coordinating with outside
organisations eg your telecommunications provider
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WANs (2)

Characteristics are:

Connections are low bandwidth, with speeds from 56kbps to 2Mbps

A single Wan connection is shared by all devises on the LAN
(bottleneck) sometimes a second link is installed for the sake of
redundancy

WANs cover a large geographical area

WAN technologies include Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP),
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), ISDN, DSL, dial-up access
and Frame Relay

WAN devices include routers, modems and WAN switches
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How Internet access works

Having set up the Internet at home you have
in effect established a WAN

Computer

Modem

Telephone Exchange
Internet
Switch

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Internet Access at Home

Initiate Dialup Software

Commands sent to modem

ISP is dialled

Modem uses local loop pair of copper wires

Signal goes to Local Exchange

A Switch forwards the call to the often distant ISP
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Internet Access at Home (2)

ISP

Modem

Modem

Telephone Exchange

Multichannel Trunk

Multiplexer
Modem

Dial-up
Server

Modem

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Internet Access at Home (3)

Between the Exchange and the IPS is a multichannel trunk

Calls are multiplexed on that link

Calls are demultiplexed and separated to modems in a bank

The users modem and the modem in the bank handshake a
speed is established and data transferred

High speed Internet connections for a company is not too
dissimilar to this

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Planning Internet Access

How will the connection be used ?

How important is the connection to the company ?

What infrastructure already exists ?

Balance need for bandwidth, reliability of
connection, quality of service provider, quality of
telco, cost

Future Applications ?

Video Conferencing/Streaming

E-Commerce

Virtual Private Network

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Telecommunications Services

Circuit Switching

Creates channels as required

Essentially for voice data

Passive

Packet Switching

Transfer of data between two points over a shared medium

Sends packets across the network using the best path

Burst-like in nature an efficient solution

Cost is based upon usage
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WAN Technologies

Point-to-Point Protocol

Advantages

Well tested and implemented

Offers excellent throughput

Supports most network protocols

Simple to implement

Disadvantages

Less flexible for rapidly expanding multiple sites

Expensive

Requires dedicated leased lines
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ISDN

Touted as the solution to residential and SMEs in the 80s as
a means of providing integrated data/voice

Due to costs has not been widely adopted

Advantages

Runs on existing phone lines

Supports voice, data and fax on one line

Good for video conferencing

Disadvantages










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Comparatively expensive
Only provides 128K can go up in multiples
Less flexible for growth and cost than other WAN technologies
Not available everywhere
Can be difficult to implement
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Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

New technology
Best option for Residential/SME customers
Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) and Symmetrical DSL
Advantages

Now becoming affordable

Good download speeds
Runs over normal copper line
Data and voice can be simultaneous

Disadvantages

New means has yet to establish a reliability track record

Not available everywhere BT have introduced satellite broadband (at a a
price !)
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Data over Cable

Standard Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (ITU-T J.112)

Known as cable-modem technology
Good Bandwidth/price ratio (cheap)
Provided by cable TV companies
Advantages

Speeds up to 10Mbps

Uses existing TV cable

Cheap

Disadvantages

Not available in all areas

Shared medium speeds can drop
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Frame Relay

Introduced in 1992

Communicates faster than X.25 (because it does not have error
correction)

Advantages

Widely adopted, International

High Capacity switched core offers scalability

Flexible, allows expansion and growth

Disadvantages

Minimal error correction

Connection-oriented service, can cause latency on slow links

Expensive
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What To look Out For

Do Research Plan !

Read the small print what do you get for your money

ISP Setup Fee

Hardware Costs

Telecoms Installation Fee

Monthly/Annual Line Rental

No. of Fixed IP Addresses

Domain Name Service

Web Space

Email Addresses
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Moving To A New Service

No current service employees have no expectations

New Service (Transition)

99% Uptime expected

No downtime apparent to clients

All services to be moved to new ISP

Resolve problems of Domain Name, email, Web etc

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Plan

Establish contacts (names, phone, email) for all key players

Plan with your account manager at the new ISP
How long will InterNIC take to fulfill Domain Name Registrations
Order equipment well in advance, confirm delivery dates
Arrange check of new lines
Plan deployment of IP addresses
Install equipment Check !
Submit new registration to InterNIC
Move to the new ISP outside office hours

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