CCNA – Semester2

Module 1
WANs and Routers

Objectives

• WANs characteristics
• Describe the role of a router in a WAN
• Router components
• Router connections
 WANs

Introduction to WANs

• These are the major

characteristics of WANs:
– They connect devices that are
separated by wide geographical
areas.
– They use the services of carriers
– They use serial connections of
various types to access
bandwidth over large geographic
areas.
WANs characteristics

• A WAN operates at the physical layer and the

data link layer of the OSI reference model.
• It interconnects LANs that are usually separated
by large geographic areas.
• WANs provide for the exchange of data packets
and frames between routers and switches and
the LANs they support.

WAN Devices
WAN Standards

• WAN physical layer protocols describe how to

provide electrical, mechanical, operational, and
functional connections for WAN services
• WAN data link protocols describe how frames are
carried between systems on a single data link.

WAN standards and OSI model

OSI model WAN Specifications
X25 PLP

Network
Layer
Frame Relay

LLC
HDLC
LAPB

SDLC

Data Link sublayer

PPP

Layer MAC
sublayer
SMDS

EIA/TIA-232
X21 bis

EIA/TIA-449
Physical
V24 V35
Layer HSSI G.703
EIA-530
WAN: Physical Layer standards
• Describes the interface
between the DTE and the DCE
• EIA/TIA-232, V.24 (DB25)
• EIA/TIA-449 (DB37)
• EIA-530 (DB25)

• V.35 (DB34)
• X.21 (DB15)
• G.703 (BNC)

www.connectworld.net

WAN Standards: Protocols

Typical WAN Layer 2 Links

HDLC, PPP, SLIP

Leased Line

X.25, Frame Relay, ATM

Packet-switched Service
Provider

PPP, SLIP, HDLC

Circuit-switched Telephone
Company

WAN: Data Link Layer standards

• SLIP
í Serial Line Interface Protocol
í Designed to carry IP packets
í Being replaced by PPP
• PPP
í Point-to-Point Protocol
í Support multiple network layer
protocols (IP, IPX, DecNET)
í Operates over sync. or async. links
• SDLC
í Synchronous Data Link Control
Protocol
í IBM designed protocol
í Point-to-point & multipoint links
í Operates over sync. links
• HDLC
í High-Level Data Link Control
í IEEE standard from SDLC
í Point-to-point and multipoint links
í Operates over sync. links
• LAPB
í Link Access Procedure Balanced
í used by X.25 protocol
• LAPD
í Link Access Procedure D-channel
í ISDN D-Channel for control signal
• LAPF
í Link Access Procedure Balanced
í Used in Frame Relay for fast frame
switching over high-quality digital
facilities
A typical WAN setup

WAN service provider toll network

S S S S CO Switch
Local Loop
S S S
Demarcation
Trunks and switches
Customer Premises
Equipment
Point-to-point or
circuit-switched
connection

Internetwork with router

• Consistent end-to-end addressing

• Addresses that represent network topologies
• Best path selection
• Dynamic or static routing
• Switching
Academy approach to hands-on labs

• In the academy lab,

devices that make up the
WAN cloud are simulated
by the connection
between the back-to-back
DTE-DCE cables.

Routers
Introduction to routers in a WAN

• A router is a special type of

computer. It has a CPU, memory,
a system bus, and various
input/output interfaces.
• Routers need the Internetwork
Operating System software (IOS)
to run configuration files.
• Configuration files contain the
instructions and parameters that
control the flow of traffic in and
out of the routers.

Router Component: CPU

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) executes

instructions in the operating system. Among
these functions are system initialization, routing
functions, and network interface control.
• The CPU is a microprocessor. Large routers
may have multiple CPUs.
Router Component: RAM

• RAM, also called dynamic RAM (DRAM), has the

following functions:
– Stores routing tables
– Holds ARP cache
– Holds fast-switching cache
– Performs packet buffering (shared RAM)
– Provides temporary memory for the configuration file of the router
while the router is powered on
– Loses content when router is powered down or restarted

Router Component: RAM

• RAM provides run time space for executable

Cisco IOS software and its subsystems.
• RAM is usually logically divided into main
processor memory and shared input/output (I/O)
memory.
• RAM can be upgraded by adding additional Dual
In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs).
Router Component: NRAM

• NVRAM has the following characteristics and

functions:
– Provides storage for the startup configuration file
– Retains content when router is powered down or restarted
• In some devices it is implemented in the same
flash device.

Router Component: Flash

• Holds the operating system image (IOS)

• Allows software to be updated without removing and
replacing chips on the processor
• Retains content when router is powered down or
restarted
• Can store multiple versions of IOS software
• Is a type of electronically erasable, programmable ROM
(EEPROM)
• Adding or replacing the flash Single In-Line Memory
Modules (SIMMs) or PCMCIA cards can upgrade the
amount of flash.
Router Component: ROM

• Maintains instructions for power-on self test

(POST) diagnostics
• Stores bootstrap program and basic operating
system software, load Cisco IOS software from
Flash ro RAM
• Some routers also have a scaled down version
of the IOS that can be used as an alternative
boot source.
• Requires replacing pluggable chips on the
motherboard for software upgrades

Router Component: Interfaces

• Three types of interfaces are local-area network

(LANs), wide-area network (WANs), and
Console/AUX.
• Connect router to network for frame entry and
exit, or connect to terminal for configuration
• Can be on the motherboard or on a separate
module (fixed or modular card)
Router Component: Interfaces

• LAN interfaces (Ethernet, FDDI, ATM..) and WAN

interfaces(serial, ISDN, CSUs..) have controller
chips that provide the logic for connecting the
system to the media.
• The Console/AUX ports are serial ports used
primarily for the initial configuration of the
router.

Router Component: Power Supply

• The power supply provides the necessary power

to operate the internal components.
• Larger routers may use multiple or modular
power supplies.
• In some of the smaller routers the power supply
may be external to the router.
2600 External Connection

Management Ports

• Provides a text-based connection for the

configuration, monitoring and troubleshooting
of the router
• The common management interfaces are the
console and auxilliary ports. These are EIA-232
asynchronous serial ports.
• Computer must run a terminal emulation
program to provide a text-based session with
the router.
Management Ports Connections

Management Ports Connections

• The console port is preferred because it

displays router startup, debugging, and error
messages by default.
• The console port can also be used when the
networking services have not been started or
have failed. Therefore, the console port can be
used for disaster and password recovery
procedures.
Connecting console interfaces
• Configure terminal
emulation software on
the PC for with the
appropriate com port
and settings.
• Connect the RJ-45
connector of the
rollover cable to the
router console port.
• Connect the other end
of the rollover cable to
the RJ-45 to DB-9
adapter.
• Attach the female DB-9
adapter to a PC

Summary

• WANs characteristics
• WANs standards and protocols
• Router internal components
• Router functions
• Router management ports
• Router LAN and WAN connection
CCNA2 – Module1