Wide Area Networks

[Zee]

What are:

• a range of public and private wide area networks with examples of their uses
• the main hardware elements required in wide area network

Any help with this would be greatful!!!

[Chris Davo]

I just done an exam on this type of thing, an example of a wide area network would be the internet. A wide area network consists of computers connected to each other over a large area. Thats all i needed on that particular topic. But im guessing you would need range of servers for it to work, computers with modems. A private wide area network could be the FBI database which can be accessed from any computer, but the requires a username and password.

Really crap answers i know, but i tried.

Zee,

You might find this useful - it explains WAN, what hardware is required, and has some links to examples.
WAN

As for the main hardware elements, here are some, off the top of my head-
• Hub
• LAN
• ISP providing connection to outside world (using ISDN, MPLS, ATM, SDSL, etc)
• Cat 5/6 cables
• Routers
• Switches
• Cables (Fibre and Cat5/6)
• Mounting Hardware & Cabinets

I don't know if you have to include environments for the WAN kit, but you usually have a comms room with AirCon, Fire Suppression, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), Environment Monitoring; and for resilience, you usually have diverse routing into the building/room, from different Exchanges.

Here's a good link from BTinternet

Yay!!! Homework thread!!!

[Zee]

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

Yay!!! Homework thread!!!

woo

Thanks a lot Chris and foreverwar !!!!!