What is WAN and WAN optimization ? First, WAN means wide area network, a telecommunications network that’s spread out geographically. It’s meant to distinguish between a broad telecommunication structure and a local area network (known as LAN). A wide area network may be owned privately or it may be rented, but usually a WAN designation means a public or shared user network is included. Second, WAN optimization refers to the idea of accelerating a broad range of applications which users access by getting rid of redundant transmissions. If this sounds fairly jargon-intensive, you’re not alone in that feeling. Much of Internet technology is cloaked in language that seems inaccessible, but perhaps there’s a way to explain these terms clearly.
Speaking plainly, WAN is a computer network that covers a broad area, such as those networks whose communications links cover metropolitan and regional areas. There are many types of networks, such as personal area networks (PANs), local area networks (LANs), campus area networks (CANs) or metropolitan area networks (MANs).
WAN optimization then is the methods used to increase the speed of a wide area network. There are various products available in which to accelerate that speed and they’re described and sold on the Internet, offering means to optimize (or increase the speed of) your network, as well as provide monitoring tools that can improve your networks response times. These methods include such items as deduplication, compression, protocol spoofing, traffic shaping and connection limits, most of which are about reducing the amount of data received and sent.
Even if you’re not clear on the terms, WAN optimization is important for anyone who uses a computer network — for receiving and sending data faster and more efficiently.