The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods N4N028: The Wide World of WANs
May 29, 2025
Discover the evolution of Wide Area Networks (WANs) from their inception to the present day. Dive into how historical developments and infrastructure shaped connectivity. Learn about the complexities of managing data traffic and the rise of software-defined WAN (SD-WAN). Explore the critical role of Internet Performance Monitoring in overcoming network challenges. Finally, uncover the future of networking with low Earth orbit satellites and the shift towards Network as a Service (NaaS) solutions.
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WAN as Network Edge Connector
- The WAN acts as the edge or boundary connecting LANs at different locations.
- Typically, a WAN router connects the LAN inside a site to the wider network, bridging local to remote infrastructure.
Private WANs vs. Internet WANs Today
- Moving from private WAN circuits to internet-based WANs is now viable due to greatly increased internet bandwidth.
- Private WANs remain relevant where data governance, privacy, or direct cloud connections demand dedicated links.
Evolution of WAN Technologies
- Historically, WAN connectivity used tech like TDM, ISDN, and dial-up modems with low bandwidth and high complexity.
- Today, Ethernet circuits have become the WAN standard, simplifying transport and increasing speeds dramatically.