Improving Network Connectivity by Deploying WAN Bonding Concept
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Markus Nyholm Improving Network Connectivity by Deploying WAN Bonding Concept Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Master’s Degree Information Technology Master’s Thesis 24 October 2016 Preface In early spring in 2016 I noticed it was time to establish an interesting subject for my Master’s Thesis. I had earlier participated in technical training concerning a technique that enables combining of several broadband lines to form one huge joint line. First, I was thinking this is just one network arrangement among many others. After a while I realised the potential and I started thinking about where such technology could be ap- plied. As time moved on I noticed that I had “too many” ideas in mind and, as a conse- quence, did not know where to start writing the Thesis. Despite a sticky start I managed to finalise the study with help of my encouraging wife and two daughters who deserve all credit for supporting me. I would also like to thank my instructor Ville Jääskeläinen for his effort and time he spent reviewing my study and giving me hints to complete it. Similarly, my thanks go to Jonita Martelius helping me with English language. Espoo 24th October 2016 Markus Nyholm Abstract Author(s) Markus Nyholm Title Improving Network Connectivity by Deploying WAN Bonding Concept Number of Pages 94 pages Date 25 April 2016 Degree Master of Engineering Degree Programme Information Technology Instructor Ville Jääskeläinen, Principal Lecturer This Master’s Thesis introduces how Wide Area Network links can be combined. As a result, more reliable connectivity in terms of bandwidth, availability, latency, network security and reach can be achieved. This topic is currently actual since business applications of today often rely on high uptime driven by cloud computing, voice and video communications etc. Moreover, an Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is largely based on high availability and high-secure connections. However, 100% uptime is today quite far from the reality. Users may suffer from unreliable Internet links and due to this they do not get the coverage, avail- ability and capacity they need in order to smoothly run their business. The main reason for this is that they normally rely on one technology or one service provider only. The thesis first demonstrates WAN technologies in common as well as WAN optimisation techniques. The effectivity of the WAN bonding is evaluated in comparison to e.g. load bal- ancing. The main objective of the thesis is to adduce the benefits of WAN bonding as a solution in enhancing network connectivity. Here, the risks can be decreased by bundling several different media into one virtual high-speed Internet connection. The outcome of this Thesis is a description of new potential use cases for WAN bonding technology in several industries and contexts. In addition, new kinds of business models for network operators and ISPs are outlined. The given examples may help operators and ISPs to develop new innovative business. On the other hand, by deploying the solution, users will experience an easier way to achieve an increase in bandwidth, availability and reach without having to re-negotiate with their current ISP. Keywords WAN, VPN, Bonding, ISP, Availability, Bandwidth, Security Contents Preface Abstract Table of Contents Abbreviations/Acronyms – if more than 10 items Glossary– if appropriate 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Today’s Business Requirements 3 1.2 Availability, Reach and Security 5 1.3 Future Needs for Reliable Connectivity 6 1.4 Methods 7 2 WAN Connection 9 2.1 Definition 9 2.2 WAN Link Connection Options 10 2.2.1 Leased Lines 11 2.2.2 Circuit Switching and Packet Switching 12 2.2.3 Ethernet WAN 13 2.2.4 DSL 13 2.2.5 Cable 14 2.2.6 Wireless 15 2.2.7 Satellite 18 2.3 MPLS 18 2.4 VPN Technology 19 2.5 Potential Challenges in WAN Connections 21 2.5.1 Lost Connections 24 2.5.2 Hardware Failures 24 3 Different Approaches to Improve Connectivity 26 3.5 WAN Optimisation and Acceleration 27 3.5.1 Data Reduction 27 3.5.2 Data Compression 28 3.5.3 Latency Mitigation 28 3.5.4 Loss Mitigation 29 3.6 Link Aggregation and Load Balancing 29 3.7 Performance Based Routing 31 3.8 Broadband Bonding 31 3.8.1 Bonding of Several Media 34 4 Commercial Implementations of Broadband Bonding 35 4.1 Mushroom Networks 35 4.1.1 Truffle Broadband Bonding for Enterprise Solutions 35 4.1.2 Truffle Lite for Small and Medium Businesses 36 4.2 Viprinet GmbH 37 4.2.1 International Site-to-Site VPN 39 4.2.2 Redundant Site-to-Site VPN 40 4.3 Multichannel VPN Hub and Router 42 4.4 Hot Plug Modules 45 4.5 RuggedVPN Solution 47 5 WAN Bonding in Several Contexts and Applications 49 5.1 Public sector 49 5.2 Internet of Things 50 5.2.1 Smart Home 52 5.2.2 Telematics and Smart metering 53 5.2.3 Health Care and Remote Patient Monitoring 54 5.3 Retail 55 5.4 Broadcasting 56 5.5 Ferries, Ships and Oil Platforms 57 5.6 Law Enforcement 58 5.6.1 Police Specific Requirements 59 5.7 High Speed Trains and Buses 60 5.8 Operators Searching for New Business 61 5.9 Broadband in Finland 62 5.10 Business Opportunities for ISPs and Network Operators 63 5.10.1 Mobile Operators in Finland 66 5.10.2 Network Operators 68 5.10.3 Small Business ISPs 69 5.10.4 Mission Critical Networks 70 5.11 Large Construction Companies 72 5.12 Financial Sector 74 6 Deployment of WAN Bonding Solution 75 6.1 General information 76 6.2 Basics of VPN Tunnels 77 6.3 Creating a Logical VPN Tunnel 77 6.4 Traffic Classes and Rules / Quality of Service 78 7 Network Security 80 7.1 Encryption Methods 82 7.2 Right Data Security Solution 83 8 Discussion and conclusions 85 References 87 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project ADSL Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line AES Advanced Encryption Standard ASP Application Service Provider ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode BGP Border Gateway Protocol CDMA Code Division Multiplex Access CEO Chief Executive Officer CIFS Common Internet File System CMTS Cable Modem Termination System CPU Central Processing Unit DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer ECG Electro Cardio Gram EIGRP Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol ERP Enterprise Resource Planning ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation FEC Forward Error Correction FISA Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act FICIX Finnish Communication and Internet Exchange association GmbH Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung GDB Gross Domestic Product GPRS General Packet Radio Service GSM Global System for Mobile communications HD High Definition HDLC High-level Data Link Control HFC Hybrid Fibre Coaxial HSPA High Speed Packet Access IaaS Infrastructure as a Service ICT Information and Communication Technology IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IoT Internet of Things IPLC International Private Leased Circuit IPSec Internet Protocol Security IP-TV Internet Protocol Television IPv4 Internet Protocol version 4 IPv6 Internet Protocol version 6 ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network ISP Internet Service Provider ISR Integrated Switching Router IXP Internet Exchange Point LACP Link Aggregation Control Protocol LMR Land Mobile Radio LTE Long Term Evolution M2M Machine to Machine MAN Metro Area Network MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output MOS Mean Option Score MPLS Multiprotocol Label Switching MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator NSA National Security Agency OSI Open System Interconnection OSPF Open Shortest Path First (Internet Protocol) PaaS Platform as a Service PC Personal Computer POS Point of Sale PPP Point-to-Point Protocol QoS Quality of Service RFID Radio Frequency Identification SaaS Software as a Service SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy SDSL Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line SLA Service Level Agreement SMA SubMiniature version A SNG Satellite News Gathering SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol SSL Secure Sockets Layer Syslog System Log TCP Transmission Control Protocol TETRA Terrestrial Trunked Radio TETRAPOL Digital, cellular trunked radio system UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System VDSL Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line VHF Very High Frequency VLAN Virtual Local Area Network VOD Video On Demand VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol VPN Virtual Private Network VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal WAN Wide Area Network LAN Local Area Network WiFi Wireless Fidelity WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access WLAN Wireless Local Area Network 1 1 Introduction Wide Area Networks (WANs) are all about exchanging information across wide geo- graphic areas. WAN is a data communications network that covers a relatively broad geographic area and that often uses transmission facilities provided by commercial car- riers, such as telephone companies. WAN technologies function at the physical layer, the data link layer, and the network layer of the OSI reference model. [1] WANs are defined based on the methods how the data packets are transmitted. The means of communication must be in place in order to be able to share the information. In addition, the networks building up the WAN must be functioning properly. The network administrators must be able to monitor traffic and alleviate bottlenecks. WANs are able to ship data packets from one place to another, over different infrastructures. The aim is that a WAN sends and delivers data packets fast and without errors. As a consequence, the data has to be exactly in the same condition as it left the sender, even if the packets have to pass through several intervening networks before reaching their destination. [1] A network with many subnetworks must be transparent and function so that it is invisible to the users.