Wide Area Network

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A wide-area network or WAN is a computer network that connects smaller networks or LANs. Since WANs are not tied to a specific location, they allow localized networks to communicate with one another across great distances. They also help communication and the sharing of information between devices from anywhere in the world.

For example, in an enterprise, a WAN is formed to connect branch offices with one another or to join remote employees working at home with the company's main office.

As WAN covers wide geographical area, it can be via wired or wireless. Wireless WAN can use, GSM, 3G, 4G, LTE network and in case of wired WAN, it can be used through copper wire, fibre wire through leased line connectivity, broadband connectivity.

As per studies found the first known WAN was created by the U.S. Air Force in the late 1950s to interconnect its several sites in the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) radar defense system. It was an enormous network of dedicated phone lines, telephones, and modems linked the sites together.

The foundation of the IP-based Internet started with the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), the first wide-area packet-switching network with distributed control and the first network to implement TCP/IP protocol suite.

Designing WAN

Building a WAN requires the support of a third-party service provider or internet service provider (ISP) who will provide a link to your location. It also requires networking equipment like routers and switches at its all locations.

While designing the WAN network, it should be in such a way and capable of communication of voice, data and video in an efficient way. The internet bandwidth should be in optimized way.

The Network shall have industry efficient compression engine to optimize bandwidth utilization.

Advantages

• WAN generally covers large geographical areas.
• You can get benefit of having centralized data by using WAN you can share the data connected to all the devices in the respective network.
• Corporate LAN sometimes uses leased lines. By using leased lines means that there are more bandwidths compared to a standard broadband connection and can help in business improvement.

Disadvantages

• Security Issue
• Installation or implementation cost
• Down time issue or disconnection issue
• Maintenance problem

We will cover more later. 

-DR