WAN (wide area network)By Dominic Dubois

IntroductionThere are many different type of WANs. When using WANs, the computers can be several kilometres apart but still be linked using the following:

• Telephone wires• Fibre-optic cables• Microwaves• Sattellites.

There are pros and cons to all of these different connectors. I will explain each one in detailed on the next several slides.

What exactly is WAN?A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network. Unlike the Local area network (LAN), the area of which signals and information can be sent is a lot wider. A WAN may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually signifies the inclusion of public networks.

Telephone wires

• Most network traffic to the internet is done via copper telephone wire. The speed of data transmission can be very slow. But now that we have newer technology, we have increased the speed at which data can be transmitted.

Fiber-optic cables

• Data can be transmitted over a long distances and at high speeds. Fibre cables are laid underground along the central reservations of motorways to connect towns and cities. It can also be used transatlanticaly.

Microwaves

Microwaves

Pro to using Microwaves Con to using Microwaves

Secure data communication between sites Direct line of sight required between the transmitted and receiving microwave dishes

Cost-effective method of linking buildings in towns

SatelliteNetwork data is transmitted to an orbiting satellite which then relays the signal to a ground station hundred of kilometers always.

There are pros and cons to using Satellite.Pros would be that the data can be transmitted over large distances, even across continents. Cons would be tat it is very costly to put a satellites into orbit

Comparison with LAN and WAN

WAN LAN

Better range Faster speed

More expensive cheaperNeed a separate hardware for each user Can share hardware e.g. printer

Need more money and time to set up Easier to set up

A lot more users at a time Less users at a time

Uses ring and star topology Uses ring and star topology

Public Private

Thank you very much for watching and listening to my presentation

Special thanks to Ms Dhaliwal for giving us this once in a life time

opportunity to give a presentation on WAN

I hope you enjoyed