This guide provides an overview of the basic functions of WANs, the objectives of client/server computing, how to evaluate your users needs, and what to consider when selecting a network operating system for your WAN. It also discusses essentials of network protocols, from Ethernet to FDDI, and takes the reader through the ins and outs of communications technology such as ATM, Frame Relay and ISDN. The book tackles many daily concerns for network managers such as troubleshooting, disaster recovery, connecting diverse platforms, security strategies, and remote access. The author uses case studies to demonstrate real problems and how they were solved.