Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a broad
area (i.e., any network whose communications links cross
metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries ). This is in
contrast with personal area networks (PANs), local area networks
(LANs), campus area networks (CANs), or metropolitan area networks
(MANs) which are usually limited to a room, building, campus or
specific metropolitan area (e.g., a city) respectively. The largest
and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.
Characteristics of WAN
1.Connect Multiple LANs via an Ethernet Network
Connect multiple LANs using Ethernet technology. Build a network as
a single overall LAN segment.
2.Wide-Area LAN that utilizes a High-Speed Layer 2 Switch
Layer 2 switch within each backbone houses a access line. Users
have access to a full-mesh WAN architecture that does not rely on
Layer 3 or other higher order layers.
3.Layer 2 Level Advanced Security
Virtual LAN technology (VLAN) is used to assign a user ID for each
user, allowing network segmentation below the IP layer.
4.Compatible with a Variety of Access Lines
Offers a number of network services compatible with bandwidths from
128kbps to 1Gbps, as well as Ether/ ATM/ DSL/ MDN, etc.
Characteristics of a MAN
A MAN is a relatively new class of network, it serves a role
similar to an ISP, but for corporate users with large LANs.They
typically use wireless infrastructure or Optical fiber connections
to link their sites.
1.The network size falls intermediate between LANs and WANs. A MAN
typically covers an area of between 5 and 50 km diameter. Many MANs
cover an area the size of a city, although in some cases MANs may
be as small as a group of buildings or as large as the North of
2.A MAN (like a WAN) is not generally owned by a single
organisation. The MAN, its communications links and equipment are
generally owned by either a consortium of users or by a single
network provider who sells the service to the users. This level of
service provided to each user must therefore be negotiated with the
MAN operator, and some performance guarantees are normally
3.A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow sharing of
regional resources (similar to a large LAN). It is also frequently
used to provide a shared connection to other networks using a link
to a WAN........................................