The authors consider the network modeling and performance analysis of multimedia file transfer between workstations connected to remotely located local area networks (LANs). The LANs are linked by a satellite wide-area network (SWAN) with a high bandwidth and high path delay. Four areas are addressed: (1) development of a fairly accurate interconnection network model using measured delay values for different network elements; (2) derivation of tight upper and lower bounds for the network throughput for both error-free and error-prone channels using mean value analysis; (3) validation of the model using computer simulation; and (4) analysis of the SWAN performance using numerical results for a wide range of parameters (file sizes, window size, link speed, number of workstations, etc.) for the case of a multimedia SWAN. Based on the analyses, performance bottlenecks for different operating conditions that could be used to evolve design criteria for better overall system performance are identified.>