Point-to-point configuration

[tech84]

This is driving me crazy. I was trying to describe to a friend of mine how we had our "wan" set up in the Marine Corps. I was in the air wing and worked in the data communications dept. All I remember (and I wasn't the router expert, mind you) is that we had a 4000 series router in the data center that was connected to 4 or 5 remote squadron hangars, all of which were less than a half mile from the data center. It seems like it was some kind of serial point-to-point connection, but there was no telco involved. On the hangar ends, there were 4000 series routers plugged into something that looked like a serial modem or CSU/DSU, and I don't remember what was on the data center end.

My question is, can anyone describe what kind of point-to-point link that sounds like? Everything I can find on serial point-to-point connections involves the telco, or some kind of service provider in between. If I remember right, this was just a shielded cable, with maybe 4 or 5 conductors. Does this make any sense?

Thanks a bunch for your help!

Mike

 

[jneiberger]

It sounds like they were using plain old serial connections with long haul modems. I think it would have to be pretty low speed but it would work.

 

[JOAMON]

Sounds like it could have been connected with via fiber and a fiber to ethernet converter that would connect to the router at each end. That would have no problem with that distance and no telco would be needed.

 

[gwildfire]

The normal thing used in the military would probably have been a flexilink fibre optic modem, it turns serial (x.21) into fire upto 8KM's then another one at the other end, working in a master slave. I know that we use them and the US AF use them.

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[tech84]

Yeah, I think jneiberger must be correct. I neglected to give the time frame here... this was in the 1994 - 1997 era, so we didn't have anything too fancy. We did have a fiber backbone that went to all of the support squadron buildings and hangars, but the flying squadrons we supported had this serial setup. I said the hangars were within half a mile of the data center, but they were a lot closer than that. The furthest was probably about a quarter mile distant. It was definitely slow. It was only designed for 3270 terminal emulation and Banyan Vines e-mail service, so no web browsing.

Thanks again for your help!

Mike