CCNA EXPLORATION
ACCESSING THE WAN
Study Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to WANs
1.1.1 What is a WAN?
How do WANs differ from LANs?
What are 3 characteristics of WANs?
Why Are WANs Necessary?
1.1.3 Describe the Hierarchical Network Model
Networks often become a mixture of newer
and older technologies & can be difficult to
support and maintain. Outages and poor
performance are a constant source of trouble
for network administrators. What does Cisco
recommend to prevent this type of situation?
Describe some of the modules mentioned in
the previous question.
1.2.1 At what layers of the OSI model do WANs
generally operate?
Describe WAN access standards & how they
are managed.
1.2.2 Describe the following WAN physical layer
terminology:
CPE
DCE
DTE
Demarcation Point
Local Loop
CO
Describe the following WAN devices:
Modem
CSU/DSU
Access Server
WAN switch
Router
Core router
Describe the following WAN Physical Layer
Standards:
EIA/TIA-232
EIATIA-449/530
EIA/TIA-612/613
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CCNA EXP 4
CH.1 INTRO TO WANs
REVISED FEB 2009
1.2.3
1.2.4
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
X.21
What is the purpose of the WAN Physical
Layer Standards?
What is the purpose of the WAN Data Link
Protocols?
What are the most common WAN data-link
protocols?
Describe WAN encapsulation.
Describe the basic HDLC frame fields.
What is Circuit Switching?
What are some examples of Circuit
Switching?
What is TDM?
What is Packet Switching?
The switches in a packet-switched network
determine which link the packet must be sent
on next from the addressing information in
each packet. There are two approaches to
this link determination. Describe them.
What are Virtual Circuits?
Describe the 2 types of VCs.
What is the main difference between the 2
types of VCs?
What is needed to connect to a PacketSwitched Network?
What are some examples of packet- or cellswitched connections?
WAN connections can be either over a
_________or over a _________, such as the
Internet.
Describe Dedicated communication links.
Describe Switched communication links.
Describe Public WAN Connection Options.
What is meant by leased lines?
Are latency or jitter a concern with leased
lines? Why or why not?
What types of applications require constant
availability in a line?
What type of additional equipment is needed
for leased lines?
What is the standard connection link option
in the US?
What is the standard connection link option
in the Europe?
In today’s technology when is analog dialup a
viable option?
What are the advantages & disadvantages of
analog dialup?
Describe ISDN.
Describe ISDN’s channels.
Describe the 2 types of ISDN interfaces.
CCNA EXP 4
CH.1 INTRO TO WANs
REVISED FEB 2009
Describe the differences between ISDN PRI in
the US & Europe.
What is call setup time?
1.3.4 Describe x.25 & its applications.
Describe Frame Relay & its applications.
Describe ATM & its applications.
1.3.5 Describe the typical Broadband connection
options are used to connect telecommuting
employees to a corporate site over the
Internet.
Describe Municipal WiFi.
Describe WiMAX.
Describe Satellite InternetDescribe VPN Technology.
What are Benefits of VPN?
Describe the 2 types of VPN access.
What is Metro Ethernet?
What are the benefits of Metro Ethernet
What are some considerations Network
Admins. need to take into account when
choosing a Wan link connection?
CCNA EXP 4
CH.1 INTRO TO WANs
REVISED FEB 2009