Answer:
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.