This chapter covers the following topics:
- WAN connectivity options, including optical networking
- Metro Ethernet, including its various flavors
- VPLS technology options
- VPN design considerations
- IPsec VPN technology options
- MPLS VPN technology options
- WAN design methodologies, including SLAs
This chapter will first cover an overview of WAN design and will then discuss the various optical link technologies used in enterprise networking, including SONET, SDH, CWDM, DWDM, and RPR. It will then define the Metro Ethernet service and its various flavors. Next, it will cover Virtual Private LAN Service technologies and VPN design considerations, followed by IP security for VPNs and the popular MPLS VPN technology options. The chapter will finish with a discussion on WAN design methodologies and various SLA monitoring aspects related to WAN services.