Wide area networks definition of wide area networks by. Lan local area network is a computer network covering a small geographic area, like a home, office, school, or group of buildings. Your home network is your lan, and it is connected to your neighbors over a wan, often managed by your internet service provider. By separating the pure communication aspects of the network from the application aspects, the complete network design is greatly simplified. Search wide area network and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. For example, a local area network can provide an eco nomical means of connecting a number of hosts within a small area to one or more longhaul packet networks. In this paper we are describing how to protect our network and wan network. A network refers to two or more connected computers that can share resources such as data, a printer, an internet connection, applications, or a combination of these. The book definition of a wan is a network that spans large geographical locations, usually to interconnect multiple local area networks lans. Wide area network advantages and disadvantages of wans. Add wide area network to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
Pdf design and implementation of system and wide area. Ip is a standard that defines the manner in which the network layers of two hosts interact. A telecom company provides home internet services to consumers in. The communication between different users of wan is established using leased telephone lines.
Transmission lines, also called circuits, channels, or trunks move bits between machines. A wide area network wan is a large network of information that is not tied to a single location. The internet most superior telecommunication network. Information and translations of wide area network in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The latency, jitter and packet loss that is associated with the wan often cause the performance of applications to degrade. Wide area network wan, a computer communications network that spans cities, countries, and the globe, generally using telephone lines and satellite links. The computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams. Specific management software virtualizes networking hardware in the same way that hypervisors and other components virtualize data center operations. In an enterprise, a wan may consist of connections to a companys headquarters, branch offices, colocation facilities, cloud services and other facilities. So, a look at how technology is not only perceived today, but its impact on the leadership potential of a given enterprise is a part of what is discussed. Sdwan simplifies the management and operation of a wan by decoupling the networking hardware from its control mechanism. On the physical layer, we use different hardware, cables, connectors and interfaces. The wan can be a major source of security vulnerabilities.
Most wan technologies describe layer one and two of the osi model. Now, wide area networks wans have become the next communications frontier. Of importance is the definition of a reliable protocol for the endtoend. Interconnection can be motivated either by economics or. The local area network lan and wide area network wan environments and pcs have once again come to be viewed as fiefdoms of disparate information caches without continuity. A local area network lan is a private computer network that connects computers in small physical areas. It can be private to connect parts of a business, or it can be public to connect smaller networks. Wans can be used to connect cities, states, or even countries. Local area network lan wide area network wan you may also see references to a metropolitan area networks man, a wireless lan wlan, or a wireless wan wwan. As a result, for the first time in a decade network organizations have an opportunity to make a. Pdf applications, deployed over a wide area network wan which may connect across metropolitan.
This local area use of long due to the fact that longhaul packet communication technology has haul network technology, indicated by the shaded area of fig. The managed wan service connects the customers local area network lan to other customer locations, other state agencies including its, and to the internet using. The wide area network wan service offers statewide internet protocol ip data communications connectivity at commercially available rates to any authorized government entity. A small office, a single building, multiple buildings inside a campus etc. Information and translations of widearea network in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. A wide area network wan is a telecommunications network that extends over a large. A world wide area network, or wan, is made up of several computer networks connected together, often over the internet. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. A wide area network wan is a network that exists over a largescale geographical area. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. Wans often contain a few smaller networks lans, mans, etc. In most wide area networks, the subnet consists of two distinct components. Wide area network meaning in the cambridge english. Wide area network an overview sciencedirect topics.
Pdf short 57 page paper on wide area networks prepared for the it data communications course. Wide area network definition of wide area network by the. A wide area network wan is a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographical area for the primary purpose of computer networking. A discussion of wide area networking is extremely timely because after a long period with little if any fundamental innovation, the wan is now the focus of considerable innovation. Wide area networks wan is type of computer network to connect offices which are located in different geographical locations.
Wide area network definition of wide area network by. A wan connects different smaller networks, including local area networks lans and metro area networks mans. What is the function of a wide area network answers. The data link layer osi layer 2 protocols define how data is encapsulated for transmis. Wan wide area network is a computer network that covers a broad area e. Relay wide area network wan connections between the agricultural research center in princeton. A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Wide area networks synonyms, wide area networks pronunciation, wide area networks translation, english dictionary definition of wide area networks. Wide area network wan a network that spans a relatively large geographical area and can be a mix of public and private networks. For wide area networks, there are dozens of technologies and protocols we can choose from.
This ensures that computers and users in one location can communicate with computers and users in other locations. Wide area network definition is a network of computers such as the internet in a large area such as a country or the globe for sharing resources or exchanging data. Of importance is the definition of a reliable protocol for the endto end. Widearea network wan access has become essential for larger. The packet switching and circuit switching technologies are effectively used in wans. A wide area network, or wan, is a network that spans a large geographical area. Wide area network wan is a data network that connects geographically dispersed. Wide area networkwan when network spans over a large distance or when the computers to be connected to each other are at widely separated locations a local area network cannot be used. You can find the definitions in the glossary at the end of the book. A wan wide area network, in comparison to a man, is not restricted to a geographical location, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. In your paper you will provide clear definitions that. The practical definition of a wan is a network that traverses a public network or commercial carrier, using one of several wan. The textbook definition of a wan is a computer network spanning regions, countries, or even the.
Wide area network definition, a computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. A man metropolitan area network is a larger network that usually spans several buildings in the same city or town. A wide area network wan is a telecommunication network that is used for connecting computers and covers a wide geographical area. You can complete the definition of wide area network given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. Wide area networks are often established with leased telecommunication circuits. A wan wide area network is a communications network that spans a large geographic area such as a city, state, or country. Wide area network simple english wikipedia, the free. The wide area network wan is a critically important topic for number of reasons. On the lan, the dominant protocol that we use is ethernet.
Sdwan is an acronym for softwaredefined networking in a wide area network wan. Local area networks lans have become commonplace in most medium and large companies. Data allocations in local area networks lans, metropolitan area networks mans, and wide area networks wans are subject to different requirements and considerations. Typically, a wan consists of two or more localarea networks lans. Wide area network definition of wide area network at. In most cases, the networks in wans all belong to the all same company or school wans are used to connect lans and other types of networks together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Local area networks lan and wide area networks wan. A softwaredefined wide area network sdwan is a wide area network that utilizes software components to control network operations. The largest wan in the world is the internet, which can.
A wan, or wide area network, is a computer network designed to connect multiple smaller local area networks lans. Wide area networks are commonly connected either through the internet or special arrangements made with phone companies or other service providers. There are two prevailing definitions of a wide area network wan. An interconnected collection of autonomous computers interconnected. Ip addresses are 32 bit long, hierarchical addressing scheme. Computer network, two or more computers that are connected with one another for the purpose of communicating data electronically. A 4g network that services populated areas across a region or country. Computers connected to a widearea network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. Wide area networks wans encyclopedia business terms. Network is a medium that connects multiple computer systems with a common communication link. A wide area network wan is a geographically distributed private telecommunications network that interconnects multiple local area networks lans.
Wans can provide communication, the sharing of information, and much more between devices from around the world through a wan provider. A network is categories into three types such as local area network lan, metropolitan area network man and wide area networks wan and in this article, we. A wide area network wan is a data network, usually used for connecting computers, that spans a wide geographical area. Wide area network definition in the cambridge english.
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