Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

Accessing the WAN Chapter 2

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Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

PPP connections are used to connect LANs to service providers or to connect LAN segments within a network.
Provides connection across protocols (TCP/IP, IPX, AppleTalk). Works over copper, fiber, or satellite. Works through ATM, Frame Relay, or ISDN. Uses Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) or Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) for security.

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How Does Serial Communications Work?

Serial sends data 1 bit at a time & Parallel sends data over multiple wires simultaneously.
Parallel may be faster but factors like clock skew (bits dont arrive at same time) & interference (crosstalk across wires causes dropped bits) make parallel communications impractical across long distances.

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Serial Communication Standards

All long-haul communications & most networks use serial connections.
RS-232 (serial port on a PC) V.35: Used by most routers/ DSUs to connect to T1 carriers. HSSI: Connect LANs to WANs over high speed (T3 lines).

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Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)

TDM is a signaling method that divides the bandwidth of a single link into separate channels. TDM shares available transmission time on a medium by assigning timeslots to users.
Multiplexer (MUX) combines 3 data streams into single stream of a never ending pattern. Examples of Synchronous TDM are T1 & ISDN.

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Statistical Time Division Multiplexing (STDM)

This form of TDM overcomes the inefficiency caused by empty time slots.
STDM uses a variable time slot, allowing channels to compete for any free slot space.

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Demarcation Point
The demarcation point is the point in the network where the responsibility of the service provider ends. This figure shows the difference between the U.S. and the International community.
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

CPE

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Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) & Data Communications Equipment (DCE)

DTE refers to the devices at the user end & serves as a data source or destination.
DCE provides the physical connection to the network.
It provides the clocking signal for synchronize data transmission.

We use the Smart Serial Connector in this class (p. 70).

When you make a serial connection between 2 routers, you must set 1 to DCE & 1 to DTE!

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Layer 2 WAN Encapsulation Protocols

The choice of protocol depends on the WAN technology and the communicating equipment. Examples of common WAN protocols and where they are used are shown in the figure.

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High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)

HDLC is the default encapsulation type point-topoint connections, dedicated links, & circuitswitched connections between Cisco devices.
HDLC uses synchronous serial transmission to provide error-free communication between two points. HDLC defines a Layer 2 framing structure that allows for flow control and error control through the use of acknowledgments.

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Configuring HDLC Encapsulation

This is a tough one (want to see it again?).

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Troubleshooting Serial Interfaces

Show interfaces serial command returns 6 possible states (1st part is serial/2nd part is line protocol):
UP/UP. Everything o.k.

DOWN/DOWN. Cable or hardware failure.

UP/DOWN. Timing problem (DCE/DTE) or router failed/misconfigured. UP/UP (looped). Loop exists in the circuit.

UP/DOWN (disabled). High error rate, CSU or DSU hardware problem, or router hardware bad.
Administratively DOWN/DOWN. Interface is shutdown or duplicate IP address exists. For the full list, see p. 77-81

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Point-to-Point (PPP)
When you need to connect to a non-Cisco router, you should use PPP encapsulation.
PPP encapsulates data frames for transmission over Layer 2 physical links.

PPP contains 3 main components:

HDLC protocol for encapsulating datagrams over point-to-point links. Extensible Link Control Protocol (LCP) to establish, configure, and test the data link connection. Family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs) for establishing and configuring different Network layer protocols.

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PPP Layered Architecture: Physical Layer

At this layer, PPP can be configured for a range of interfaces:
Asynchronous serial. Voice/video/data conveyed in fix length cells.

Synchronous serial. Bit oriented, full duplex.

High-Speed Serial Interface (HSSI). ISDN. Offered by telephone companies.

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PPP Frame Structure

A PPP frame has 6 fields:
Flag. Indicates the beginning or end of a frame. Address. Standard broadcast address. Control. In PPP this field is set to 0xFF (broadcast). Protocol. Identifies encapsulated protocol. Data. Max is 1500 bytes.

Frame Check Sequence (FCS). Error detection.

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Establishing a PPP Session Using LCP

Link Control Protocol (LCP) does the talking.

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LCP Link Negotiation Process

See the process flowchart detailing the negotiation process.

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Internet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP)

IPCP is a network control protocol for establishing and configuring IP over a PPP link. After LCP establishes the link, IPCP (red) negotiates 2 options: 1) Compression. 2) IP address for PPP routing.

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PPP Configuration Commands

Examples of Compress (slows performance) & Quality (checks link if suitable for Layer 3 protocols) commands.

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Verifying Serial PPP Encapsulation

Use show interfaces to verify proper configuration. Use debug command to troubleshoot in real-time.
Remember to use the undebug command because debug consumes lots of device resources.

Youll get lots of practice on these commands in this weeks lab.

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Debug PPP
The table explains the debug PPP command parameters. See p. 104-7 for printout examples.

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PPP Authentication Protocols

Youll get some PAP/CHAP questions on the CCNA exam.
Know that CHAP (3-way exchange of a shared secret, Message Digest 5) is more secure than PAP (sends password in plain text).

Router R3 initiates a 3-way handshake & sends a challenge message to router R1.
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PPP Encapsulation & Authentication Process

Visual example of the logic decisions that PPP makes. See p. 113-115 for PPP authentication steps.

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Configuring PPP with Authentication

The PPP Authentication command specifies the order in which the CHAP or PAP protocols are requested on the interface (you can specify CHAP or PAP or both).

Note: AAA/TACACS is a dedicated server used to authenticate users. AAA stands for "authentication, authorization and accounting.
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Troubleshooting PPP with Authentication

The following is an interpretation of the output:
Line 1. The router is unable to authenticate on interface Serial0 because the peer did not send a name. Line 2. The router was unable to validate the CHAP response because USERNAME 'pioneer' was not found. Line 3. No password was found for 'pioneer'. Other possible responses at this line might have been no name received to authenticate, unknown name, no secret for given name, short MD5 response received, or MD5 compare failed.

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Other commands
Interface s0/0/0
Encapsulation ppp PPP multilink

Hostname Jmac-Router Username Freak password cisco Int S0/0/0

Encap PPP Ppp authentication CHAP

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