Quick Study Points for WAN (Wide Area Network) Technologies and Protocols

WAN Technologies:

• Definition: WAN technologies are used to connect geographically dispersed networks over long distances, typically covering large areas or even spanning across countries.

• Purpose: WAN technologies facilitate reliable and efficient communication between remote locations and enable organizations to establish wide-scale network connectivity.

Leased Lines:

1. • Definition: Leased lines are dedicated point-to-point connections between two locations, provided by telecommunications companies.

     • Purpose: Leased lines offer consistent bandwidth, low latency, and high reliability, making them suitable for organizations with constant data transfer requirements.

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching):

1. • Definition: MPLS is a routing technique that uses labels to forward data packets across a network, creating virtual paths.

     • Purpose: MPLS improves network performance, provides Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities, and enables efficient traffic engineering for optimized routing.

Frame Relay:

1. • Definition: Frame Relay is a packet-switching technology that transmits data in variable-size frames over WAN networks.

     • Purpose: Frame Relay offers cost-effective connectivity for intermittent data transfer, suitable for small to medium-sized networks.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode):

1. • Definition: ATM is a cell-switching technology that uses fixed-size cells to transmit data over WAN networks.

     • Purpose: ATM supports high-speed data transmission, voice, and video, making it suitable for multimedia applications and high-bandwidth requirements.

WAN Protocols:

• Definition: WAN protocols are used to establish and manage communication between devices or networks over wide area networks.

• Purpose: WAN protocols ensure reliable and secure data transmission across WAN connections, providing efficient network communication.

1. PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol):

   • Definition: PPP is a data link layer protocol used for establishing a direct connection between two network nodes.

   • Purpose: PPP enables the encapsulation of various network protocols, such as IP, and provides authentication and error detection mechanisms.

1. HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control):

   • Definition: HDLC is a bit-oriented data link protocol used for synchronous communication over WAN networks.

   • Purpose: HDLC provides reliable and efficient data transmission, error detection, and flow control capabilities.