Any tips for WAN learning strategy?

I have found the WAN concepts to be my weakest point, and one of the main reasons I have not taken the CCNA yet. I think that it may have to do with the way the material is being presented to me. Does anyone have a source that shows the WAN protocols/encapsulations that can be used why and when? Sometimes I am just thinking, why would I use HDLC instead of PPP encapsulation? And if the network is packet switched, what encapsulation should I use and why? Seems like the books just scatter the material in a random manner, and not laying the foundations down the way I would think they would. If anyone has a good source for understanding WANs I would appreciate it. I already have all the Lammle and Odum books.

- Optimus

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Comments

forbesl

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/index.htm

optimus wrote:

Sometimes I am just thinking, why would I use HDLC instead of PPP encapsulation?- Optimus

I totally agree with you. I personally believe that Lammle didn't do a good job in explaining WAN technologies. This was exactly the reason why I had to postpone my exam. Finally I got hold of a CBT that really helped me clarify the concept.

Yes, PPP might be the best solution based on situation. Cisco HDLC protocol is proprietary and exclusive to Cisco. This is configured by default in Cisco routers.

optimus

What CBT did you use?

- Optimus

rossonieri#1

SV wrote:

Yes, PPP might be the best solution based on situation. Cisco HDLC protocol is proprietary and exclusive to Cisco. This is configured by default in Cisco routers.

the answer is PPP do the error checking - while other L2 prots such as frame-relay, x25 etc leave the error checking to upper layer like TCP or APPLICATION to control the flow.

cheers

optimus

Hey, thanks for the tip!

Optimus

optimus wrote:

What CBT did you use?
- Optimus

It has been a while since I returned it back to one of my friend. Will find the name and let you know. I will not recomend it since its outdated.

rossonieri#1

optimus wrote:

Hey, thanks for the tip!

Optimus

you are very welcome

and - can you change your avatar picture, optimus ?? i think its a bit impolite : ) no offense : )

cheers..

Deadmaster200

What's impolite about it

optimus

Oh, I am sorry if this avatar seems impolite. It's just a couple of babes in bathing suits hanging out with Optimus. But if you think so, maybe someone else does also. I will work on a change for it.

- Optimus

rossonieri#1

optimus wrote:

Oh, I am sorry if this avatar seems impolite. It's just a couple of babes in bathing suits hanging out with Optimus. But if you think so, maybe someone else does also. I will work on a change for it.

- Optimus

ok - now it looks much better

go go OPTIMUS PRIMES !!