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Chapter 12
WAN Technologies
As an enterprise grows beyond a single location, it becomes necessary to interconnect the
local-area networks (LANs) in the various branches to form an enterprise wide-area
network (WAN). This chapter examines some of the available options for these
interconnections, the hardware needed to make them, and the terminology used in
discussing them.
Concept Questions

Demonstrate your knowledge of these concepts by answering the following questions in

the space provided.
1. What is a WAN?

A WAN is a data communications network that operates beyond the geographic scope of a Local
Area Network (LAN). One primary difference between a WAN and a LAN is that a company or
organization must subscribe to an outside WAN service provider to use WAN carrier network
services. A WAN uses data links that are provided by carrier services to access bandwidth over
wide-area geographies. A WAN connects the locations of an organization to each other, to locations
of other organizations, to external services (such as databases), and to remote users. WANs
generally carry a variety of traffic types, such as voice, data, and video. Telephone and data
services are the most commonly used WAN services.
2. Describe WAN encapsulation.

Data from the network layer is passed to the data-link layer for delivery on a physical link,
normally point to point. The data-link layer builds a frame around the network-layer data so that it
can apply the necessary checks and controls. Each WAN connection type uses a Layer 2 protocol
to encapsulate traffic while it is crossing the WAN link. To ensure that the correct encapsulation
protocol is used, the Layer 2 encapsulation type to use for each serial interface on a router must be
configured. The choice of encapsulation protocol depends on the WAN technology and the
communicating equipment.
3. What is circuit switching?

Circuit-switching can be used to establish a connection for voice or data between two
geographically separate points. Before useful communication can start it is necessary to
establish the connection by setting switches. This is done by the telephone system, using
the dialed number. As well as ordinary voice-grade lines, ISDN is used on digital lines. If
the local loop is not directly connected to the telephone system, digital subscriber line
(DSL) may be available.
4. What is packet switching?

Networking method in which nodes share bandwidth with each other by sending packets.
5. What are some examples of circuit-switched connections?

• Plain Old Telephone System (POTS)

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• ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

• ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI)

6. Describe some of the main features and concepts of ISDN, including

the various types of interfaces that an ISDN connection can make.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) turns the local loop into a TDM digital connection.
The connection has 64 kbps bearer channels (B) for carrying voice or data and a signaling (delta or
D) channel for call set-up and other purposes.
Basic Rate Interface (BRI) ISDN is intended for the home and small enterprise, provides 2 B
channels with a 16 kbps D channel. For larger installations, Primary Rate Interface (PRI) ISDN is
available. PRI delivers 23 B channels and 1 D channel in North America for a total bit rate of up to
1.544 Mbps (this includes some additional overhead for synchronization). In Europe, Australia,
and other parts of the world, ISDN PRI provides 30 B channels and 1 D channel for a total bit rate
of up to 2.048 Mbps (including synchronization overhead). The PRI D channel is 64 kbps, shown
in Figure 12-15. Note that the rate of a North American PRI corresponds to a T1 connection. The
rate of the international PRI corresponds to an E1 connection.
7. Describe some of the main features and concepts of Frame Relay connections.

Frame Relay implements no error or flow control. The simplified handling of frames leads to
reduced latency. Measures taken to avoid frame build-up at intermediate switches help reduce
jitter.
Most Frame Relay connections are based on PVCs rather than SVCs. The connection to the
network edge is often a leased line. Dialed connections are available from some providers using
ISDN lines. The ISDN D channel is used to set up an SVC on one or more B channels. Frame
Relay tariffs are based on the capacity of the connecting port at the network edge and the agreed
capacity or committed information rate (CIR) of the various PVCs through the port.

8. Describe some of the main features and concepts of ATM connections.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a technology that is capable of transferring voice, video,
and data through private and public networks. It is built on a cell-based architecture rather than on
a frame-based architecture. ATM cells are always a fixed length of 53 bytes. The 53-byte ATM cell
contains a 5-byte ATM header followed by 48 bytes of ATM payload. Small fixed-length, 53-byte
cells are well suited for carrying voice and video traffic because voice and video traffic are
intolerant of delay. Video and voice traffic do not have to wait for a larger data packet to be
transmitted.

Vocabulary Exercise

Define the following terms as completely as you can. Use the online curriculum or Chapter
12 of the Cisco Networking Academy Program CCNA 3 and 4 Companion Guide for help.
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Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)- International standard for cell relay in which
multiple service types (such as voice, video, or data) are conveyed in fixed-length (53-
byte) cells. Fixed-length cells allow cell processing to occur in hardware, thereby reducing
transit delays. ATM is designed to take advantage of high-speed transmission media such
as E3, SONET, and T3.

customer premises equipment (CPE)- Terminating equipment, such as terminals,

telephones, and modems, supplied by the telephone company, installed at customer sites,
and connected to the telephone company network.

central office (CO)- Local telephone company office to which all local loops in a given
area connect and in which circuit switching of subscriber lines occurs.

Customer Service Unit (CSU)- Digital interface device that connects end-user equipment
to the local digital telephone loop. Often referred to together with DSU, as CSU/DSU.

data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE)- (EIA expansion) or data circuit-terminating

equipment (ITU-T expansion). The devices and connections of a communications network
that comprise the network end of the user-to-network interface. The DCE provides a
physical connection to the network, forwards traffic, and provides a clocking signal used
to synchronize data transmission between DCE and DTE devices. Modems and interface
cards are examples of DCE.

data terminal equipment (DTE) - Device at the user end of a user-network interface
that serves as a data source, destination, or both. DTE connects to a data network through
a DCE device (for example, a modem) and typically uses clocking signals generated by the
DCE. DTE includes such devices as computers, protocol translators, and multiplexers.

digital service unit (DSU) - Device used in digital transmission that adapts the physical
interface on a DTE device to a transmission facility such as T1 or E1. The DSU is also
responsible for such functions as signal timing. Often referred to together with CSU, as
CSU/DSU.

circuit switching - Switching system in which a dedicated physical circuit path must exist
between sender and receiver for the duration of the "call." Used heavily in the telephone
company network.

packet switching - Networking method in which nodes share bandwidth with each other
by sending packets.

permanent virtual circuits (PVC)- Virtual circuit that is permanently established. PVCs
save bandwidth associated with circuit establishment and tear down in situations where
certain virtual circuits must exist all the time. Called a permanent virtual connection in
ATM terminology.

switched virtual circuits (SVC) - Virtual circuit that is dynamically established on

demand and is torn down when transmission is complete. SVCs are used in situations
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where data transmission is sporadic. Called a switched virtual connection in ATM

terminology.

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) - Technique in which information from multiple

channels can be allocated bandwidth on a single wire based on preassigned time slots.
Bandwidth is allocated to each channel regardless of whether the station has data to
transmit.

Frame Relay - A packet-switching protocol for connecting devices on a Wide Area

Network (WAN). Frame Relay networks in the U.S. support data transfer rates at T-1
(1.544 Mbps) and T-3 (45 Mbps) speeds. In the U.S., Frame Relay is quite popular
because it is relatively inexpensive. However, it is being replaced in some areas by faster
technologies, such as ATM.

ISDN - Abbreviation of integrated services digital network, an international

communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines or
normal telephone wires. ISDN supports data transfer rates of 64 Kbps (64,000 bits per
second).
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CCNA Exam Review Questions

The following questions help you review for the CCNA exam. The answers appear in
Appendix A, “Answers to CCNA Exam Review Questions.”
1. Which of the following statements pertaining to ISDN is true?

A. The ISDN BRI offers two B channels and one D channel.

B. The D channel, operating at 16 Kbps, is meant to carry user data.
C. The ISDN BRI offers 23 B channels and one D channel in North America.
D. The total bit rate of the ISDN BRI is 2.533 Mbps.
2. Which of the following statements is not true of ATM technology?

A. It can transfer voice, video, and data.

B. ATM offers higher bandwidth than Frame Relay.
C. It has a cell-based architecture rather than a frame-based architecture.
D. ATM cells are always a fixed length of 35 bytes.
3. What is equipment on a subscriber’s premises that connects to a
service provider’s central office called?

A. DTE
B. DCE
C. CPE
D. None of the above
4. Which of the following is not a circuit-switched connection?

A. SONET
B. Plain Old Telephone System (POTS)
C. ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
D. ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
5. Which of the following is not a packet-switched connection?

A. Frame Relay
B. X.25
C. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
D. SONET
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6. ISDN BRI is composed of which of the following?

A. Two B channels and two D channels

B. Two B channels and one D channel
C. 23 B channels and one D channel
D. 30 B channels and one D channel