Understanding the WAN Wide Area Network Carl Heininger and Jim Gates

Let’s Build a WAN We start with one computer

We start with one computer

And then there were two We connect to another one, and we’ve got a (very small) network

We connect to another one, and we’ve got a (very small) network

And so on…

And so forth Very fast connection between machines

Let’s add some services Service might be “share drives” Looks like your school’s network, now

Service might be “share drives”

Looks like your school’s network, now

A Look at TWO District Buildings

Let’s Connect Them Very Fast Connection

Connect ALL buildings

Let’s package this for clarity Making your DISTRICT’S Network

Let’s connect your district to the Internet The Internet Cloud

Why is it called “The Cloud?”

Your “clicks” travel the cloud The Internet Cloud

Where can you improve your service? Get a broader “pipe” to the cloud  The Internet Cloud

So, where does the WAN come in What if we connected our districts together on our OWN backbone? What if our backbone was VERY fast? What if our services were on the WAN, as well? What if we didn’t have to fight the “cloud?” Answer - Then we’d have a WAN – a Wide Area Network

What if we connected our districts together on our OWN backbone?

What if our backbone was VERY fast?

What if our services were on the WAN, as well?

What if we didn’t have to fight the “cloud?”

Answer - Then we’d have a WAN – a Wide Area Network

Are there limiting variables? 45mb 5 mb 1.5 mb

What’s the point of connecting with a slow connection? Security of data Data does not enter the cloud, therefore not easily intercepted More reliable connection Less congestion means… Better streaming of videos (less choppy) Better video conferencing quality Services on the WAN don’t use Internet bandwidth Two different data paths

Security of data

Data does not enter the cloud, therefore not easily intercepted

More reliable connection

Less congestion means…

Better streaming of videos (less choppy)

Better video conferencing quality

Services on the WAN don’t use Internet bandwidth

Two different data paths

What’s on the WAN now? Internet2 UnitedStreaming Plato Your website? E-Locker Blackboard Powerschool SchoolWires

Internet2

UnitedStreaming

Plato

Your website?

E-Locker

Blackboard

Powerschool

SchoolWires

What’s possible? Multicasting video streams “broadcast” training sessions, professional development activities, etc Similar to a TV network Content “Islands” Your district could house a blog server for others to share Another district houses digital videos to share the load

Multicasting video streams

“broadcast” training sessions, professional development activities, etc

Similar to a TV network

Content “Islands”

Your district could house a blog server for others to share

Another district houses digital videos to share the load

What does it mean to teaching and learning? Services that are otherwise not used because of security concerns can now be offered Classrooms can connect across the WAN Share teachers Students can collaborate with students in other districts

Services that are otherwise not used because of security concerns can now be offered

Classrooms can connect across the WAN

Share teachers

Students can collaborate with students in other districts

So the question now is… Why AREN’T you on the WAN?