Cable Last Update Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 1

Objectives of This Section Learn –How the cable TV system can be used to access a corporate network Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 2

Context Layer1 Network TypeWAN Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 3

Layers As a layer 1 technology a Cable data line requires something at layers 2 through 7 in order to operate Typically this is –Layer 2 PPPoE –Layer 3 through 7 TCP/IP and a VPN Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 4

Current Use Current cable systems can provide all aspects of connectivity to a business including phone service, Internet access, and TV Keep in mind that this is not a dedicated data line In order to connect to another site the traffic will at some point have to cross the Internet Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 5

Speeds Speeds on current cable systems are fast enough to support a large number of users For example Comcast states their business class connection has 50 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 6

Setup One of the nice things about this technology from the standpoint of the WAN manager is that there is nothing that must be done on the customer end to setup this kind of data line Just call the provider Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 7

Security As a shared media security is a problem for cable systems Most systems use DOCSIS to provide some security As an always on media the site must be protected just like any other site This requires a firewall running on a single machine or a small firewall to protect the site Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 8

Security A better solution is to deploy these along with a VPN solution Copyright Kenneth M. Chipps Ph.D. 9