What is the purpose and what are some of the components of a wide area network connection?

A wide area network (WAN) is a network of devices, local area networks (LANs), or metropolitan area networks (MANs) that are connected over wired or wireless communication lines. A virtual private network (VPN) connects different WAN sites. These connections span large geographic areas and can occur between cities, regions and even countries. A WAN is often used by large companies looking to manage and share information and resources between branches. This type of network is mainly used as a way to connect smaller LANs and, although they have slower data transmission capabilities from LANs, they are able to connect a wider coverage area.

Here are some components that are frequently found in a network:

Servers: These are computers that serve some service, that is, they exist only in order to provide resources for computers to do work. Client: Computers that access resources offered by the network through servers. Feature: Anything that can be offered such as printers, files, internet access, etc. Protocol: For computers to communicate, there must be a common language. Protocol is the medium that computers can communicate with. Cabling: Data is trafficked through physical devices, and the definition of cabling is the medium in which that data is trafficked as fiber optics or wireless networks.

WAN (wide area network) is the network that is used for the connection in the geographical areas on large scale. They are used for connecting the areas like cities, countries, states etc. The connection of various LANs (Local area network) and MAN (Metropolitan area network) form the WAN.

There are several components that are used in the wide area network structure. Some of the constituents are as follows:-

ATM () Asynchronous transfer mode Fiber optic communication path Modem having cables Frame relay Dial up internet etc.