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Sales,
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Wide Area Network (WAN)
Networking requirements
Easy connections and consistency are crucial to companies relying on remote
access. Customers, employees and partners should connect seamlessly, as if they
are in company headquarters. They also must count on the ability to log in and
to remain connected at an expected level of performance.
The ranks of telecommuters and mobile users are growing every day and their
UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS needs are expanding from ISDN and modem connections to
voice and fax. Unified Communications will allow users to become less dependent
on the office and to increase productivity.
Design Considerations
The remote access server is an integral part of the total network solution and
must scale to meet growing demand.
Cisco remote-access servers, combined with Cisco IOS® software, provides a
unique solution that extends the core infrastructure with secure, reliable,
high-speed, dial-in connections. Considerations for a total network solution
should include:
- Number of expected users
- Mix of connection modes (for example, ISDN vs. modem)
- Peak hours of use
- Security
Scalability
Planning for peak usage is crucial. Small groups can use Basic Rate Interfaces (BRI)
into headquarters, but larger operations could require multiple channel T1 or T3
circuits. The mix and time of connections also determine requirements. For
example, 200 modem users calling between 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. would require 200
DS-Os (digital signal, level 0) or nine Primary Rate Interface (PRI) circuits.
Dial Access Stacking Architecture (DASA)
The Cisco solution for growth is unique: DASA allows any remote-access point of
presence (POP) to be expanded by adding another Remote Access Server (RAS). The
user calls the same number and, in addition, usually receives better performance
because the load has been relieved on over-taxed servers.
Starting from a single-access server, businesses gain:
- More user capacity by adding additional servers
- Better performance with process servers
- Simplified management as infrastructure remains
consistent
- The next generation of technology with features and products that provide increased
performance and density without disrupting current operations
Security
Security solutions become a higher priority as companies and users discover the
flexibility of remote access. A combination of Cisco Access Control Lists,
Point-to-Point Protocol passwords, and AAA (authentication, authorization, and
accounting) server options provide solutions from small- to large-sized
deployments.
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