Wide Area Networks- WAN

Wide area networks are networks designed to facilitate communications between users and applications over large distances—between the various corporate offices of an international organization that are located in cities all over the world. There are two primary compelling reasons for designing and building wide area network capabilities: ■ An organization requires data communication links between widely spread facilities and between an organization and its business partners, customers, and suppliers. ■ An organization requires fast access to the Internet, either as a consumer or as a provider of Internet services, or both. These two requirements, may, of course, overlap substantially. For example, an extranet is a connection between a business and its business partners, used for the exchange of information and services, and for collaboration, coordination and planning. The Internet is generally preferred as the medium for extranet activities. The main distinguishing feature that charac...