There are typically three types of WAN based on the technology used for connectivity:
- Leased Lines: Leased lines are dedicated point-to-point connections established by telecommunications providers. They provide consistent bandwidth and reliability but can be costly, as they require paying for the entire bandwidth regardless of usage.
- Circuit-Switched Networks: These networks establish temporary connections through circuit-switching technologies like ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). They are less common today due to the prevalence of packet-switched networks like the internet.
- Packet-Switched Networks: Packet-switched networks, such as the internet and MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), are widely used for WAN connectivity. They transmit data in packets across shared or virtualized connections, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional leased lines.
There are generally two primary types of WAN:
- Private WAN: Private WANs are typically owned, operated, and maintained by a single organization. They provide dedicated and secure communication channels between different locations of the organization, ensuring data privacy and reliability.
- Public WAN: Public WANs, such as the internet, are shared networks accessible to multiple organizations and users worldwide. They offer connectivity between geographically dispersed locations, enabling global communication and access to internet-based services and resources.
The three major WAN topologies include:
- Point-to-Point: In a point-to-point WAN topology, two endpoints are directly connected through a dedicated communication link. This topology is straightforward and suitable for connecting two remote locations securely.
- Hub-and-Spoke: The hub-and-spoke WAN topology involves a central location (hub) connected to multiple remote locations (spokes). All communication between remote locations typically passes through the central hub, simplifying management but potentially creating a single point of failure.
- Full Mesh: In a full mesh WAN topology, every location is interconnected with every other location, forming a fully interconnected network. This topology provides high redundancy and fault tolerance but requires more resources and configuration compared to other topologies.
The three types of Ethernet WAN services include:
- Ethernet Private Line (EPL): EPL provides a point-to-point Ethernet connection between two locations. It offers dedicated bandwidth and is suitable for connecting two geographically dispersed offices or data centers.
- Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL): EVPL is a point-to-multipoint Ethernet service that allows multiple locations to communicate over a shared Ethernet connection. It provides flexibility and scalability for connecting multiple sites within a single network.
- Ethernet LAN Service (E-LAN): E-LAN is a multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet service that connects multiple locations in a LAN-like configuration. It supports any-to-any connectivity between multiple sites, making it ideal for organizations with distributed offices or campuses requiring seamless communication and resource sharing.