LANs and WANs

[reddevilggg]

I'm starting CCNA 1 & 2 in September, so i'm doing some early studying and i'm reading about LANs and WANs.

LANs .....i get

WANs   ...... i have a question. Do WANs use LANs to connect or are they using a completely different medium??

For example, a train from Edinburgh to London can pass through many stations. (WANs using LANs to connect LANs)

OR is it one main link that just connects cities, for example??

I've been searching the internet and can not find the answer in 'laymans terms' , there is so much terminology. Also, does anyone know of any beginners guide to networking, Cheers.

[Computer_Commando]

Summary here:  http://www.diffen.com/difference/LAN_vs_WAN

[reddevilggg]

Yeah, read that one and this is what i dont understand, for WANs 'connection' it states -

Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites.

That means they are connected by LANs, right ?
    

[Computer_Commando]

No.  The interface between the LAN & WAN is the cable modem or DSL modem.  LANs can connect to each other directly(as in your own home or business) OR over a WAN, i.e. your home has a LAN (1 or more computers), and CH has a LAN, but are connected to each other over WAN.
This is good for further reading:  http://www.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet.htm

[reddevilggg]

LANs .....i get

but what connects WANs........do WANs connect by utilising LANs OR do they have there own medium.

[rthompson80819]

First of all there is no firm definition of a WAN.

Here is a good article on connection speeds of present day WANs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_Carrier_transmission_rates

The link that CC posted stated

WANs have a lower data transfer rate as compared to LANs

That was true years ago, but certainly not true today.  WANs are most often used over backbone fiber going from city to city using SONET.

[Computer_Commando]

but what connects WANs........do WANs connect by utilising LANs OR do they have there own medium.

No.
WANS are almost all fiberoptic, connected by specialized computers & equipment.  A major manufacturer is Cisco.
Google:  internet architecture.

[reddevilggg]

WANS are almost all fiberoptic, connected by specialized computers & equipment.  A major manufacturer is Cisco.

Thanks, i'm beginning to understand. I'll have a read.

[rthompson80819]

This may be more than you want to know, and it's a lot to digest, but here is an article on SONET.  At some point it will be part of your studies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronous_optical_networking

[Computer_Commando]

The beginnings were here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

[reddevilggg]

Bookmarked, thanks again.

[Computer_Commando]

Nothing would be possible without this & this.  And a few other milestones.

[simplyS]

i need to make a project on LAN and VLAN ... can sumbody plzz help me with sum material n help me understand it too... thnx

[reddevilggg]

i need to make a project on LAN and VLAN ... can sumbody plzz help me with sum material n help me understand it too... thnx

You would probably get a better response starting your own thread