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Wide Area Network (WAN)
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is often connected through public networks such as the carrier data networks via leased lines, packet switched data networks, or satellites.
A point-to-point link in a Wide Area Network (WAN) provides a single, pre-established communication path from corporate office sites through a carrier network and are usually leased from a carrier (thus are often called leased lines) that are run on dedicated pairs of wire and facilities and are priced based on bandwidth and distance between two connected end points.
A Wide Area Network (WAN) Interface Card (WIC) is a card (circuit board) that fits into a router and serves as the physical interface to an access circuit connecting to the WAN.
A Wide Area Network (WAN) operates in the same way as a LAN in that WAN technology defines the frame format to be used and each computer connected to a switch is allocated a physical address that allows many WANs to use hierarchical addressing which simplifies forwarding that divides an address into two parts, one identifying the packet switch and the other the computer connected to that switch.
Wide Area Network (WAN) acceleration is a method of optimizing networks to better utilize existing bandwidth. Many new and old technology companies are offering forms of WAN acceleration by using a combination of techniques such as data compression and caching.
With respect to Quality of Service (QoS), Multiprotocol Label Switching,(MPLS) will enable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to manage different kinds of data streams based on priority and service plan that can be adjusted depending on requirements such as Voice over IP (VoIP), streaming media or any type of high-bandwidth content requires minimal latency and packet loss.
On a Frame Relay Wide Area Network (WAN), Frame Relay Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) create fixed point-to-point connections between ports that are connected to Frame Relay Access Devices (FRADs). Users have access to only their own FRADs. Frame relay customers cannot establish or change PVCs by manipulating their FRADs. Only the service provider can implement PVCs. PVCs are created between Data Link Connection Identifiers (DLCIs) that act as network addresses. DLCIs are defined by service provider and create the permanent part of the virtual circuit. Once established by the service provider, the customer cannot modify or cross-connect the PVC to another PVC. For example, site A can only talk to sites B and C only if the DLCI of site A is mapped by the service provider to the DLCI of sites B and C.
IP VPN router integrity can be strengthened by firewalls that minimize the risk of attack. However, a firewall cannot completely close the entry points to a TCP/IP-based network because any router connected to that network has the potential to communicate with other routers on the network. Firewalls may be used to provide barriers to communication between routers, but the potential path between the routers exists and can be gained if a firewall fails or is defeated by a hacker.
Frame relay offers security to the user automatically, while the IP VPN user must take additional measures to add security. Inherent in its technology, frame relay creates closed user groups that completely eliminate the threat of a user on one customer’s network using a FRAD to access another customer’s FRAD. Frame relay’s predefined layer 2 PVC paths between the FRADs cannot be breached via frame relay customer access.
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