2.0.1.2 Class Activity – PPP Persuasion (Instructor Version)
Instructor Note: Red font color or gray highlights indicate text that appears in the instructor copy only.
Objectives
Describe the benefits of using PPP over HDLC in a WAN.
This activity can be completed individually or in small groups of 2-3 students per group.
Scenario
Your network engineering supervisor recently attended a networking conference where Layer 2 protocols were discussed. He knows that you have Cisco equipment on the premises, but he would also like to offer security and advanced TCP/IP options and controls on that same equipment by using the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).
After researching the PPP protocol, you find it offers some advantages over the HDLC protocol, currently used on your network.
Create a matrix listing the advantages and disadvantages of using the HDLC vs. PPP protocols. When comparing the two protocols, include:
- Ease of configuration
- Adaptability to non-proprietary network equipment
- Security options
- Bandwidth usage and compression
- Bandwidth consolidation
Share your chart with another student or class. Justify whether or not you would suggest sharing the matrix with the network engineering supervisor to justify a change being made from HDLC to PPP for Layer 2 network connectivity.
Resources
- Internet access to the World Wide Web
- Word processing or spreadsheet software
Instructor – Suggested Model Example and Resources
Internet Sites/Resources:
HDLC and PPP Comparison Chart
| Criteria | HDLC | PPP |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Configuration | Standard or default for all Cisco equipment | Can be simple or more involved, depending upon the PPP options chosen to implement |
| Adaptability to Non-Proprietary Network Equipment | Not adaptable to other non-Cisco devices | Adaptable to other non-proprietary devices |
| Security Options | Not offered | CHAP (encrypted and secure link passwords) or PAP (non-encrypted link passwords) |
| Bandwidth Usage and Compression | Standard TDM and no compression | Compression available |
| Bandwidth Consolidation | Standard serial bandwidth used on one connection | Different connections can be bundled to offer higher bandwidth and traffic throughput |
Identify elements of the model that map to IT-related content:
- PPP
- HDLC
- CHAP
- PAP
- TDM
- STDM
- Bandwidth compression
- Bandwidth consolidation