(Wide Area Network) A long-distance communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as a state or country. The telephone companies and cellular carriers deploy WANs to service large regional areas or the entire nation. Large enterprises have their own private WANs to link remote offices, or they use the Internet for connectivity. Of course, the Internet is the world's largest WAN.
WANs, LANs and MANs
A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex. A MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb. Following is a bandwidth comparison between major LAN and WAN technologies. See LAN, MAN and personal area network.
WANs, LANs and MANs
A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex. A MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb. Following is a bandwidth comparison between major LAN and WAN technologies. See LAN, MAN and personal area network.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Wireshark 1.2.4 (Mac)
- Wireshark is the world's foremost network protocol analyzer, and is the standard in many industries. It is the continuation of a project that started in 1998. Hundreds of developers around the world have contributed to it, and it is still under active development. Read/write many different aWireshark is the world's...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Wireshark 1.2.4 (Windows)
- Wireshark is the world's foremost network protocol analyzer, and is the standard in many industries. It is the continuation of a project that started in 1998. Hundreds of developers around the world have contributed to it, and it is still under active development. Read/write many different capture file formats: tcpdump...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- The stupid network will get a hearing
- Leave my bits aloneIf I pay for unlimited service up to a certain speed that's what I expect to get. The fee I pay is supposed to cover the level of service I order. If a company is investing in a service I didn't buy, they neeed to get their...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-13
- BwanaDik 3.3 (Mac)
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- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- IP Watcher 3.0.0.3 (Windows)
- IP Watcher is a powerful application that monitors your public and local IP address. If your IP address changes it will send an email or SMS Text Message alert containing the new WAN IP address. This alert also includes the computer name, local IP address and time the change occurred....
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- GeneralKB 2.7.402 (Windows)
- GeneralKB is an innovative Knowledge Management software allowing an easy and effective management of all types of knowledge bases. With its intuitive user interface, it is easy to create, capture, and store in one location all types of documents and files and have fast retrieval when required. To improve knowledge...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- FileLocator Pro 5.2 (1025) (Windows)
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- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Apple Airport Extreme Base Station (Winter 2009)
- Great Performance With Some AnnoyancesI got this wireless router because my D-Link one had become unreliable. I opened the box and this router is beautiful, packaged in typical Apple style, although it didn't setup in typical style, and in fact it was a nightmare to setup.This router doesn't use...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-28
- Edraw Network Diagrammer 5.0 (Windows)
- Network Diagram is ideal for network engineers and network designers who need to draw detail network documentation, 3D Network Diagram. Cisco Network Diagram. Edraw Network Diagram is rather a lightweight yet incredibly powerful, who works in the following network diagram fields: basic network diagrams, Cisco network topology, logical network diagrams,...
- Software downloads 2009-10-28
- TP-Link TL-WR741ND Wireless Lite N Router
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- Product reviews 2009-10-26
- Global cyberwar: Installed in your PC at home, the office and government
- Personal Accountabilityas long as people can think and act as though their conduct on the internet is shrouded in anonomity.Until each of us takes full responsibility for what we do and operates with the knowledge that our 'unique' verifiable identities can be obtained readily, the carnage will continue and broaden.A...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-21
- IPSentry Network Monitoring Suite 5.7.5 (Windows)
- IPSentry performs constant monitoring of network connections, LAN/WAN, router, servers, event logs, databases, and more. Real time notification alerts are issued to your cell, pda, malbox, or you can have IPSentry perform specific actions based on the result. Such as restart services, shutdown a server, send broadcast message. It's up...
- Software downloads 2009-10-21
- Best 'bang for the buck' graphics cards
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- Blog posts 2009-10-16
- Windows SMB2 exploit now public; Expect in-the-wild attacks soon
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- Discussion threads 2009-09-29
- ASCS Intranet Applications 09-27-2009 (Windows)
- ASCS" Intranet Applications are a suite of .NET applications that you can download and install on your server, free of charge, to build a business portal. In a nutshell, ASCS IT Solutions & Support is growing a suite of Intranet applications to help our clients run their businesses. Our tools...
- Software downloads 2009-09-27
- Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Premium Edition)
- The new Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax is a great upgrade from the Netgear WNDR3300. It now supports true dual bands, offering simultaneous Wireless-N performance in both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. The router also offers a decent network storage feature when coupled with a USB external hard drive. It includes a traffic...
- Product reviews 2009-09-23
- It's flu season: connect and optimize your workers
- I recently took part in my first Wi-Fi enabled flight (AA 387 STL â€" SAN) and, in addition to raving about the experience, I found it one of the better ways to make productive use of otherwise lost time. While the speed was reasonable, and better than I'd expected, there...
- Blog posts 2009-09-22
- The best VoIP solution is ...
- What about hosted?Wondering if you guys would be willing to discuss the most obvious omission... hosted. It's like choosing which car to buy when its cheaper to take a limo.RE: The best VoIP solution is ...Your article was only comprehensive if you consider just the IP-PBX and desktop telephone;...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-22
- Remote exploit released for Windows Vista SMB2 worm hole
- Time for an out-of-cycle patch Microsoft. nt.This exploit doesn't countIf the exploit was created by security researchers, it doesn't count.Cue the double standards...It's called "Proof of concept".Originally classified as "Denial of Service", it is now proved to be wormable in every version of Windows currently on the market.But feel free...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-17
- Merlin 2.7.4 (Mac)
- The only native networkbased collaborative Project Management solution for Mac OS X just got better! This new release offers many unique and compelling features propelling Merlin to stand atop as the ultimate Mac OS X professional project management solution. Here are just a few of the key feature...
- Software downloads 2009-09-17
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