Wide Area Network (WAN)
A WAN is a network that uses various links – private lines, Multiprotocol Label Virtual private networks (VPNs), wireless (cellular), MPLS switching, and the Internet are used to link disparate, dispersed, smaller campus and urban networks into a single, larger network. The locations they link may be few kilometers distant or located halfway across the world. A wide area network (WAN) may be used in an organization to share corporate communications and resources by linking branch offices and even individual distant workers to the data center or headquarters.
A wide-area network, or WAN, is one that spans a considerable geographic region. A wide area network (WAN) links many smaller networks, such as metro area networks (MANs) and local area networks (LANs). This guarantees that users and computers in one place may speak with users and computers in other places. Either a private network or the public transmission system may be used to construct WAN.
A wide area network, or WAN, links several local area networks, or LANs. WANs have resemblance to a banking system, in which hundreds of branches located in disparate cities are interconnected to exchange official data.
With a greater scope, a WAN functions similarly to a LAN. TCP/IP is often the protocol used for a wide area network (WAN) in conjunction with routers, switches, firewalls, and modems.
WAN architecture Originally constructed using mesh webs of private lines purchased from telecom providers, WAN designs now use packet-switched services like frame relay and ATM in addition to MPLS. By switching across service-provider networks, these services enable a single connection to a site to be linked to several others. The Internet may also be included into the mix to provide less costly WAN connections for certain sorts of traffic.
The WANs’ past
Wide Area Networks (WANs) date back to the early days of computer networks. Circuit-switched telephone lines were among the first types of wide area networks (WANs); but, as technology advanced, wireless and fiber-optic communications became available. Additionally, data may be sent by satellite transmission or leased lines.
Transmission rates evolved along with technology. Today’s 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps connection is an evolution from the early days of 2400 bps modems. The rise of computers, phones, tablets, and smaller Internet of Things devices is evidence that these speed advancements have made it possible for more devices to connect to networks.
Furthermore, increased speed has made it possible for apps to make use of more bandwidth, which may traverse WANs at very fast speeds. This has made it possible for businesses to use features like large-file data backup and videoconferencing. It would never have occurred to anybody to have a videoconference over a 28K bps modem, yet employees may today join via video from their cubicle in a worldwide business meeting.
Many WAN lines are provided by carrier services, which allow traffic from one client to cross across to another’s shared infrastructure. Additionally, customers may purchase dedicated connections, which are used only for the traffic of one client and set up circuits point-to-point. These are usually used for high-bandwidth applications like videoconferencing that have delay-sensitive requirements or top-priority traffic.
Virtual private networking (VPN) technology, which hides security features including authentication, encryption, secrecy, and non-repudiation, may safeguard connections between WAN locations.
WAN Control and efficiency
The greater the distance between two devices, the longer it will take for data to move between them since data transmission is still subject to the laws of physics. The longer the wait, the larger the distance. Performance issues might also be brought on by network congestion and lost packets.
By improving the efficiency of data transfers, WAN optimization may help with part of this. This is significant because wide area networks (WANs) may be costly. Consequently, solutions have emerged to minimize traffic across WAN lines and guarantee effective delivery of data. These optimization techniques include compression, caching (moving frequently used data closer to the end user), and deduplication (short for reducing redundant data).
The ability to shape traffic allows for the prioritization of certain applications (like VoIP) over less essential ones (like email), hence enhancing WAN performance overall. This may be codified into quality of service settings that identify traffic classes based on the bandwidth allotted to each class, the kind of WAN connection each traffic type will use, and the priority each class gets in relation to the others.