So what, exactly, is it that makes something a wide area network (WAN) instead of a local area network (LAN)? Well, there’s obviously the distance thing, but these days, wireless LANs can cover some serious turf. What about bandwidth? Well, here again, some really big pipes can be had for a price in many places, so that’s not it either. So what the heck is it then?
One of the main ways a WAN differs from a LAN is that while you generally own a LAN infrastructure, you usually lease WAN infrastructure from a service provider. To be honest,modern technologies even blur this definition, but it still fits neatly into the context of Cisco’s exam objectives.
Anyway, I’ve already talked about the data link that you usually own (Ethernet), but now we’re going to find out about the kind you usually don’t own—the type most often leased from a service provider.
The key to understanding WAN technologies is to be familiar with the different WAN terms and connection types commonly used by service providers to join your networks together.
One of the main ways a WAN differs from a LAN is that while you generally own a LAN infrastructure, you usually lease WAN infrastructure from a service provider. To be honest,modern technologies even blur this definition, but it still fits neatly into the context of Cisco’s exam objectives.
Anyway, I’ve already talked about the data link that you usually own (Ethernet), but now we’re going to find out about the kind you usually don’t own—the type most often leased from a service provider.
The key to understanding WAN technologies is to be familiar with the different WAN terms and connection types commonly used by service providers to join your networks together.
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