Chapter 4. Wide Area Network Connections

Wide Area Network Connections

Cisco excels in wide area networks (WANs), connecting different sites over telephone company circuits. To many people, a T1 or DS3 connection is some mysterious "thing" that provides the Internet or connects corporate offices to headquarters. Once you know a little about them, however, network circuits are far less mysterious than whatever makes your boss's computer crash three times a day.

Wide area networks are mainly used for connections to the Internet via an ISP, or for connecting two offices over a private network. We'll discuss both uses.

Internet Connections

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