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Wide Area Networks

Learn about the building blocks, transmission technologies, and future trends of Wide Area Networks (WANs). Explore how WANs connect multiple sites and span geographic distances, using point-to-point connections, leased circuits, packet switches, and various transmission equipment. Discover the history of WAN technologies and their evolution into modern solutions like Frame Relay, ATM, and Packet over SONET. Explore concepts like virtual circuits, cell format service types, and LAN Emulation in ATM networks. Get insights into future WAN technologies and their integration with IP networks.

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Wide Area Networks

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  1. Wide Area Networks Computer Networks

  2. Motivation • Connect multiple sites • Span geographic distances • Cross public right-of-way • streets • buildings • railroads

  3. Building blocks • Point-to-point long distance connections • leased circuits • provided by telecommunications companies • Packet switches • IP routers • ATM switches • many types...

  4. Long-Distance Transmission Technology • Lease transmission facilities from telecommunications companies • Generally point-to-point • NOT part of the conventional telephone system • Copper, fiber, microwave or satellite • Analog or digital

  5. WAN Transmission Equipment • Analog • MODEM required at each end • Digital • CSU/DSU required at each end

  6. CSU/DSUs • Performs two functions, usually in a single box • Needed because telecommunications digital encoding differs from computer industry digital encoding • DSU • translates between the two encodings • CSU • terminates line • allows for maintenance

  7. CSU/DSU Illustrated

  8. Standards for WAN Circuits • Specified by telephony industry in each region • Can differ around the world • North America and Japan examples • DS0, DS1, DS3, T1, T3, Fractional T1 • OC1, OC3, OC12, OC48, SONET • Rest of the world examples • E1, E2, E3 • SDH

  9. Inverse Multiplexing • Recall multiplexing • Instead of intertwining, you combine • Combines two or more circuits • Produces intermediate capacity circuit • Special hardware required

  10. Inverse Multiplexing Illustrated

  11. Early WAN Technologies • ARPANET • historically important in packet switching • fast when invented, slow by current standards • precursor to today’s Internet • X.25 protocol suite • early commercial service • still used • more popular in Europe • service by telecommunications companies

  12. Recent WAN Technologies • SMDS • offered by telecommunications companies • not as popular as frame relay • Frame relay • widely used commercial service • offered by telecommunications companies • ATM • offered by telecommunications companies • designed for both WAN and LAN

  13. Future WAN Technologies • Packet over SONET • provided by telecommunications companies • removes intermediate complexity • Packet over DWDM • provided by telecommunications companies and long haul fiber optic providers • Ethernet?

  14. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) • Connection oriented using virtual circuits • Use of fixed sized packets called cells • Defines service categories for QoS networking • Operates on LANs using LAN Emulation (LANE) • Usually used for high-speed WAN connectivity

  15. Virtual Circuits • Circuit ID instead of full host address pairs • Switches swap IDs using translation tables • Switch stores connection state for hosts

  16. Cell Format

  17. Service Types • CBR constant bit rate • VBR-NRT variable bit rate - non real time • VBR-RT variable bit rate - real time • ABR available bit rate • UBR unspecified bit rate

  18. LANE and MPOA • Overview • Backwards compatibility of ATM nodes with LANs such as Token Ring and Ethernet. Must support the broadcast nature of LANs with the virtual circuit nature of ATM. • LAN Emulation Client (LEC) • Provides abstraction for LAN protocols to ATM network • LAN Emulation Server (LES) • Manages and supports LECs • LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS) • Maintains emulated LANs (ELANs) and supports LECs • Broadcast and Unknown Server (BUS) • Distributes broadcasts/multicasts

  19. How ATM is Used in a LAN • 1. LEC - Implemented at each client (bridge listens to all) • 2. LEC contacts LECS to going a ELAN via a pre-configured SVC or discovered dynamically via integrated local management interface (ILMI) • 3. LECS assign LEC to a ELAN and direct them to a LES • 4. LEC setups up connection to LES and registers addresses • 5. LES assigns a BUS to the LEC • 6. LEC queries LES for a MAC address to ATM address translation • 7. LECS responds directly or forwards query to another LEC • 8. MAC broadcasts are sent to BUS so that an associated ATM broadcast can be sent to all stations in the ELAN.

  20. ATM Summary The aim was to combine the flexibility of packet data networks (e.g. Internet) with the per-user quality of service guarantees of a circuit switched network (e.g. telephone network). A monumental task! Although an important technology, it may follow the path of similar technologies (e.g. Token Ring). Stay tuned.

  21. Final Thoughts • Local loop • ISDN • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) • Cable modems • Cellular • CIR/CAR • Everything over IP

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