Wide Area Network

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Wide Area Network

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is an expansive network that connects computers over a broad geographic area, allowing devices to communicate across cities or even countries. It often uses a combination of technologies like leased lines, satellites, and microwave links.

What does Wide Area Network mean?

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a telecommunications network that connects devices over long distances. WANs are used to connect computers, networks, and other devices over large geographic areas, such as cities, countries, or even continents. WANs are typically used to connect devices that are not located in the same local area network (LAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN).

WANs are typically used to connect devices that are located in different geographical areas. For example, a WAN might be used to connect a company’s headquarters to its branch offices in other cities or countries. WANs can also be used to connect different networks, such as a corporate network to the Internet.

WANs can be implemented using a variety of technologies, including leased lines, Dial-up connections, satellite links, and Wireless connections. The type of technology used to implement a WAN will depend on the specific requirements of the network.

Applications

WANs are used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Connecting corporate headquarters to branch offices
  • Connecting different networks, such as a corporate network to the internet
  • Providing remote access to resources, such as files and applications
  • Supporting distributed applications, such as cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS)
  • Enabling global communications, such as video conferencing and instant messaging

WANs are essential for businesses that need to communicate and share data over long distances. WANs also enable businesses to connect to the internet and access a wide range of online resources.

History

The history of WANs can be traced back to the early days of telecommunications. In the early 1900s, telegraph and telephone networks were used to connect devices over long distances. In the 1950s, the ARPANET was created, which was the precursor to the modern internet. The ARPANET was a WAN that connected universities and research institutions in the United States.

In the 1970s and 1980s, WANs became more widely used as businesses began to adopt computer networks. In the 1990s, the internet became widely available, which led to a further increase in the use of WANs. Today, WANs are an essential part of the global communications network.