WAN is a network that covers a broad geographic area, which often uses service providers’ (SP) transmission facilities and operates on Physical Layer#, Data Link Layer# and Network Layer# to connect several #Local-Area Network (LAN). Several network devices could operate within WAN such as Switch# (at data link layer) and Router#.
There are several types of transportation exist in WAN:
The expansion of WAN is Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)#.
Router consists of two types of interfaces: LAN interfaces and WAN interfaces. LAN interfaces could be used to connect Router to the LAN which is typically connected with an RJ-45 jack (Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable (UTP)). For connecting Router to Switch, we use a Straight-Through Cable. In the case of Router to Router, we use a Crossover Cable. For PC to Router, we will use Roll-Over Cable. LAN interface could serve Ethernet# and Fast Ethernet.
Very large, very high-speed Router is often used in #packet-switched network and formed the backbone of the modern Internet and global Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity services. They are called the core routers. Those which sitting at the edges of the network and providing WAN access to everyone else are usually called the edge routers.
WAN interfaces are for external connection, that is router to external network. It could serve different Wide Area Network (WAN) technologies such as Serial, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Frame Relay.
Leased Line is one of the network transmission implementation for #Wide Area Network (WAN) in which a private connection is pre-established from one site through a service provider’s network to a remote site.
MPLS is a Data Link Layer# #Wide Area Network (WAN) backbone technology that delivers WAN and MAN services. It is one of the alternative to replace the legacy Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Point-to-Point/Leased Line as it can provide their functionalities in a multiservice form. Though it can be used to aggregate and transport Frame Relay, ATM, and IP-based traffic, the former two could be done using Any Transport over MPLS (AToM) technology. It also provides the Virtual Private Network (VPN)# technology.
MAN is a network that covers a geographic region with a size of a metropolitan. It connects various Local-Area Network (LAN)# to each other, and provides sufficient connections to the Wide Area Network (WAN)#. Most of the connection are done by Fibre-Optic Cable# and its technologies using pulses of light.
The expansion of LAN is Wide Area Network (WAN)#.
Frame Relay is a #packet-switched Wide Area Network (WAN) service that operate at the Physical Layer# (EIA/TIA-232 specification is the standard) and Data Link Layer#. Its speed usually ranges from 56 kbps to 2Mbps, and it provides connection-oriented services using virtual circuits. Recently, it’s been viewed as obsolete because of the wide adoption of Dense Leased Line (DLL).
Circuit Switching is a #Wide Area Network (WAN) technology that allows private connection from multiple sites to a single carrier’s switched network in order to communicate with each other. This can be done by using a physical switch#. It is originated from telephone network.
Broadband is a high-bandwidth, high-speed #Wide Area Network (WAN) service that allow home connection to the Internet by utilising the existing network infrastructure such as phone wiring, cable TV coaxial cable or satellite. It provides always-on connectivity, that is the immediate access to the Internet service, in contrast to dial-up connection.
ATM is a Wide Area Network (WAN) technology that support both #Packet Switching and #Circuit Switching functionalities. It operates at #Data Link Layer. The basic components in an ATM network are ATM switches#, which is responsible for moving cells through the network, and ATM endpoints, such as workstations, Router, data service units (DSU) etc.