Intro to Wan - You Decide

The two options we have are Point-To-Point Protocol (PPP) or High level Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP). Both of these options have their advantages and disadvantages. PPP is a layer 2 protocol that is used to connect LANs to a service provider WAN and to also connect LAN segments within an Enterprise network.

Serial Line Internet Protocol is a standard protocol for point- to-point serial using TCP/IP. This type of connection has been replaced with PPP and the connection does not carry the same type of security that the PPP has. My recommendation is that we go with PPP because it provides LAN-to-WAN connections handling TCP/IP, IPX and AppleTalk simultaneously.

Point-To-Point Protocol is a connection from router to router and host to network connection. This type of connection would be able to use lease line or circuit-switch connections with the service provider. PPP also has a two different authentication for log in and security, CHAP and PAP.

One type of security is the Password Authentication Protocol (PAP). PAP provides a simple method for a remote node to establish identity using a two-way handshake. This is only done during the initial link establishment.

Basically when logging in the PAP sends the user name and password to the server rather than the server trying to get the information. The server will either accept or deny the user name and/or password and will not allow access. You will be able to connect fast, however it is less secure. Because information is being authenticated only once with PAP, the computer is vulnerable the rest of the time.

The other security protocol is the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP). This protocol verifies identity of the remote node using a three-way handshake. The Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol starts by sending out a challenge message to the remote server/router. This message is based on the password and challenge message. The remote server/router will run the challenge message,...