Wollega University

Department of Informatics
Data Communication and Computer Networking

MAY 2016
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 Chapter Six

LAN and WAN Technologies

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Network Devices Functions
• Separating (connecting) networks or expanding network
e.g. repeaters, hubs, bridges, routers,switches,
gateways
• Remote access
e.g. 56K Modems and ADSL modems

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Expanding Network

• Networks cannot be made larger by simply adding new computers

and more cables
Less efficient !!
• Can install components to
segment (divide) large LAN to form smaller LANs
connect LANs
• Required components
Repeaters, bridges, routers, switches or gateways

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Remote Access
• Remote access is the ability to get access to a computer or a network
from a remote distance.
• In corporations, people at branch offices, telecommuters, and people
who are travelling may need access to the corporation's network.
• Home users get access to the Internet through remote access to an
Internet service provide.
• Needs Remote Access Device
Eg.MODEM,ISDN,DSL

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LAN Devices(Host)
• Provides users with connection to network
computers (both clients and servers)
printers
scanners
other user devices
• Connects directly to a network segment
• Operates at all 7 layers of the OSI model

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LAN Devices(NIC)
• Printed circuit board usually installed inside a computer case
• Also called network adapter
• Adapts host device to the network
• Layer 2 device
• Carries a unique code called a MAC address

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LAN Devices(Media)
• Carries a flow of information, in the form of bits and bytes, through a
LAN
• Considered layer 1 component
• Includes
Cat 5 UTP
optical fiber
free space
coaxial cable

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LAN Devices(Connecting Devices)
• Six connecting devices
Repeaters
Hubs
Bridges
Switches
Routers
Gateway

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Five categories of connecting devices

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 Repeaters
• A physical layer device the acts on bits not on frames or packets
• Single-port “in” and single-port “out” device
• Can have two or more interfaces
• When a bit (0,1) arrives, the repeater receives it and regenerates
it, the transmits it onto all other interfaces
• Used in LAN to connect cable segments and extend the
maximum cable length  extending the geographical LAN range
Ethernet 10base5 – Max. segment length 500m – 4 repeaters (5 segments)
are used to extend the cable to 2500m)
Ethernet 10Base2- Max. segment length 185m - 4 repeaters (5 segments)
are used to extend the cable to 925m

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 Types of Repeaters
• FM Voice – Very common.
• ATV – Amateur Television.
• AM and SSB - Not very common.
• Digipeaters – Primarily used for packet communications.
• Multi-channel (wideband) – Amateur satellites.

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 Limitations and Features of Repeaters
• Cannot link unlike segments
• Cannot join segments with different access methods (e.g. CSMA/CD and token
passing)
• Do not isolate and filter packets
• Can connect different types of media
• The most economic way of expanding networks

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Hub
• Regenerates and retimes network signals
• Also known as a multi-port repeater
• Creates central connection point for wiring media
• Classified as layer 1 device
• Can be active or passive
• Can be “intelligent” or “dumb”
• Used to connect stations adapters in a physical star topology but
logically bus
• Connection to the hub consists of two pairs of twisted pair wire one
for transmission and the other for receiving.
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 Cont’d
• Hub receives a bit from an adapter and sends it to all the other adapters without implementing any access
method.

• does not do filtering (forward a frame into a specific destination or drop it) just it copy the received frame
onto all other links

• The entire hub forms a single collision domain, and a single Broadcast domain
 Collision domain: is that part of the network (set of NICs) when two or more nodes transmit at the
same time collision will happen.
 Broadcast domain: is that part of the network (set of NIC) where each NIC can 'see' other NICs'
traffic broadcast messages.

• Multiple Hubs can be used to extend the network length

• For 10BaseT and 100BaseT the maximum length of the connection between an adapter and the hub is 100
meters  the maximum length between any two nodes is 200 m = maximum network length

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 Interconnecting with hubs
• Backbone hub interconnects LAN segments
• Advantage:
• Extends max distance between nodes
• Disadvantages
• Individual segment collision domains become one large collision domain  (reduce the
performance)
• Can’t interconnect different Ethernet technologies(like 10BaseT & 100BaseT) because no
buffering at the hub

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 Bridges
• Has one input and one output
• Used to isolate network traffic and computers
• Has the intelligent to examine incoming packet source and destination addresses
• But cannot interpret higher-level information
• Hence cannot filter packet according to its protocol

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Cont’d
• Acts on the data link layer (MAC address level)
• Used to divide (segment) the LAN into smaller LANs segments, or to connect LANs that use identical physical and data
link layers protocol (see figure in next slide)
• Each LAN segment is a separate collision domain
• Bridge does not send the received frame to all other interfaces like hubs and repeaters, but it performs filtering which
means:
 Whether a frame should be forwarded to another interface that leads to the destination or dropped
• This is done by a bridge table (forwarding table) that contains entries for the nodes on the LAN
 The bridge table is initially empty and filled automatically by learning from frames movements in the network
 An entry in the bridge table consists of : Node LAN (MAC) Address, Bridge Interface to which the node is connected to, the
record creation time.
• A bridge runs CSMA/CD before sending a frame onto the link not like the hub or repeater
• Bridge frame handling is done in software

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Switches
• Switches operate at the Data Link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model
• Can interpret address information
• Switches resemble bridges and can be considered as multiport bridges
• By having multiport, can better use limited bandwidth and prove more
cost-effective than bridge

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Cont’d
• Switches divide a network into several isolated channels
• Packets sending from 1 channel will not go to another if not specify
• Each channel has its own capacity and need not be shared with other channels

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Cont’d
 Usually used to connect individual computers not LANs like bridge
• Allows more than one device connected to the switch directly to transmit simultaneously
• Can operates in Full-duplex mode (can send and receive frames at the same time over the same
interface)
• Performs MAC address recognition and frame forwarding in hardware (bridge in software)
• Two types :
 Store-and-forward: switch receives the whole a frame on the input line, buffers it briefly , performs error
checking, then routes it to the appropriate output line (similar to bridge). Buffering will cause some
delay.
 Cut-through: based on the fact that the destination address appears at the beginning of the MAC frame,
so once the address is recognized the frame is directly sent to the appropriate output line if the output
buffer is empty (no need to buffer it).  no buffering delay  NO ERROR CHECKING

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 Cont’d

Isolated collision
domains

Full-Duplex operation
Advantages of Switches
• Switches divide a network into several isolated channels (or collision domains)
• Reduce the possibility of collision
• Collision only occurs when two devices try to get access to one channel
• Can be solved by buffering one of them for later access
• Each channel has its own network capacity
• Suitable for real-time applications, e.g. video conferencing
• Since isolated, hence secure
• Data will only go to the destination, but not others

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Limitations of Switches
• Although contains buffers to accommodate bursts of traffic, can become
overwhelmed by heavy traffic
• Device cannot detect collision when buffer full
• CSMA/CD scheme will not work since the data channels are isolated, not
the case as in Ethernet
• Some higher level protocols do not detect error
• E.g. UDP
• Those data packets are continuously pumped to the switch and introduce more
problems

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 Routers
• Operates at network layer = deals with packets not frames
• Connect LANs and WANs with similar or different protocols together
• Switches and bridges isolate collision domains but forward broadcast messages to all LANs
connected to them. Routers isolate both collision domains and broadcast domains
• Acts like normal stations on a network, but have more than one network address (an address to
each connected network)
• Deals with global address ( network layer address (IP)) not local address (MAC address)
• Routers Communicate with each other and exchange routing information
• Determine best route using routing algorithm by special software installed on them
• Forward traffic if information on destination is available otherwise discard it (not like a switch
or bridge)

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Routers connecting independent LANs and WANs

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Gateways

• To connect two networks that use different protocols

• It works at all seven layers of OSI model.
• Unlike a router a gateway can forward packets across different networks that may
also use different protocols
• Example: If network A is token ring network using TCP/IP and Network B is a
novel network , a gateway can relay frames between the two.

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Functions of Gateways
• It has abilities to translate between different frame formats and also
between different protocols.
• It is a very powerful computer system compared to a bridge
• It is used to connect huge and incompatible networks.

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Remote Access Devices-MODEM
• Allow computers to communicate over a telephone line
• Enable communication between networks or connecting to the world beyond the LAN.
• Cannot send digital signal directly to telephone line
• Sending end: Modulate(MOD) the computer’s digital signal into analog signal and transmits
• Receiving end: Demodulate(DEM) the analog signal back into digital form.

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Cont’d

• Modems typically have the following I/O interface:

• A serial RS-232 communication interface
• An RJ-11 telephone-line interface (a telephone plug)

RS-232 RJ-11
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Modem Performance Measures
• Baud rate - the number of symbol change per second on the
transmission line
• Bit per second (bps) - number of bits transmitted per second
• In the past, they are identical
• With compression technique, a change of signal can mean more than
one bits
• 28.8kbaud can mean 115.2kbps when using V.42bis

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 Types of Modem
• Asynchronous modems :are relatively simple and economic
• Need clocking devices
• Data are transmitted in blocks
• Used in digital networks
• Large overhead - can be up to 20 to 27% of the data traffic
• Error control is done by using parity bit or higher layer protocols, e.g. MNP, V.42
• Synchronous modems are relatively complicated and expensive
• Seldom use in home market
• Less overhead means higher efficiency
• More sophisticated error control protocol is required

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ADSL

• ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

• Particularly suitable for high speed multimedia communications, general Internet
applications
• Asymmetric - downstream 1.5 to 6.1Mbps
upstream 16 to 640kbps
• Digital - mainly for transmitting digital data
still require modulation and demodulation
• Subscriber line - make use of the analog connection between household and CO

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Other DSL Types

• HDSL – High speed DSL

• 2 twisted pair, 12,000 feet
• 1.5Mbps (DS1) full-duplex
• Symmetric
• VDSL – Very high bit rate DSL
• Downstream: 52 Mbps (SONET STS-1) over 1000 feet; or 15 Mbps over 3000
feet
• Upstream: 1.5 to 2.3 Mbps
• RDSL – Rate adaptive DSL
• Intelligent DSL to adjust data rate

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 Virtual LANs
• VLAN: Virtual (logical) Local Area Network : Local Area Network configured by software not by
physical wiring
 Using the Virtual LAN technology will allow grouping computers logically instead of physically.
 VLAN divides the physical LAN into several Logical LANs called VLANs
 Switch maintains a look up table to know to which LAN a machine belongs to.

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Advantages Of VLAN

• Reduce cost and installation time:

• Instead of physically moving a station to another segment or another switch, it
can be moved by software.
• Increase security:
• A group of users needing a high security can be put into a VLAN so that NO users
outside the VLAN can communicate with them.
• Stations belong to the same group can send broadcast messages that will NOT
be received by users in others VLAN groups
• Creating Virtual Workgroups
• Stations located at physically different locations can be added easily to the same
broadcast domain so that they can send broadcast messages to one another.
• EXAMPLE: people from different departments working on the same project
WAN Technology

• A Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to interconnect Local Area Networks

(LANs) that are separated by a large geographical distance.
• A wide-area network (WAN) is a data communications network spanning a large
geographic area such as a state, province, or country.
• A Wide Area Network predominately operates at the OSI physical and data link
layers.
• The WAN provides a data path between routers and the LANs that each router
supports.

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MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF WANS
• The network operates beyond the local LAN’s geographic scope. It uses the
services of carriers such as Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs).
• WANs use serial connections of various types to access bandwidth over wide-area
geographies.
• By definition, the WAN connects devices separated by wide areas.
• It is designed to:
 Operate on a large geographical area.
 Allow access over serial interface operating at lower speed.
 Provide full time and part time connectivity.
 Connect device separate over wide even global area.

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WAN Connection Types

•Point-to-Point connection
•No setup before transmission
•Up to 45Mbs

•Setup before transmission

•Dial-up modems or ISDN
•Low bandwidth

•Share bandwidth
•Frame Relay and X.25
•56Kbps to 2.048Mps

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Devices In WAN
• Routers offer many services, including internetworking and WAN interface ports.
• Switches in the WAN provide connectivity for voice, data, and video communication.
• Modems include interface voice-grade services, channel service units/digital service units
(CSU/DSUs) that interface T1/E1 services, and Terminal Adapters/Network Termination 1
(TA/NT1s) that interface Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) services.
• Communication servers concentrate dial-in and dial-out user communication.

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WAN Physical Layer

• WAN physical layer protocols describe how to provide electrical,

mechanical, operational, and functional connections for wide-area
networking services.
• These services are most often obtained from WAN service providers
such as Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), alternate
carriers, and Post, Telephone, and Telegraph (PTT) agencies.

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WAN Data Link Protocols

• WAN data link protocols describe how frames are carried between
systems on a single data path.
• They include protocols designed to operate over dedicated point-to-
point, multipoint, and multi-access switched services such as Frame
Relay.

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WAN Standards

• WAN standards typically describe both physical layer delivery

methods and data link layer requirements including addressing and
flow control encapsulation

describes the interface between the data terminal

equipment (DTE) and the data circuit-terminating
equipment (DCE).

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DTE & DCE

• DTE - data terminal equipment. 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, routers, and multiplexers.
• DCE - Data communications equipment (EIA) or data circuit-
terminating equipment (ITU-T). 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. Ex:
Modems and interface cards

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The Data Link Layer: WAN Protocols

High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)—HDLC is an IEEE standard. It might not

be compatible between different vendors because of the way each vendor has
chosen to implement it.
• HDLC supports both point-to-point and multipoint configurations with minimal
overhead
Frame Relay - Frame Relay uses high-quality digital facilities.
By using a simplified framing with no error correction mechanisms, Frame
Relay can send Layer 2 information much more rapidly than these other WAN
protocols.
Point-to-Point Protocol - Described by RFC 1661. PPP contains a protocol field to
identify the network-layer protocol.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - ISDN is a set of digital services
that transmits voice and data over existing phone lines.

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