FAQs
LANs connect devices within a limited area, such as an office, while WANs connect devices that are spread across a large area, such as an entire country or even the world.
What is the difference between WAN and LAN in WIFI router? ›
LANs use local connections like ethernet cables and wireless access points. WANs use wide area connections like MPLS, VPNs, leased lines, and the cloud. LANs are faster, because they span less distance and have less congestion. WANs are slightly slower, but that may not be perceived by your users.
What is the difference between wireless LAN and wireless WAN? ›
The main difference between WWAN and WLAN is range — a WWAN can cover a much larger area than a WLAN. Additionally, WWANs are typically used to connect devices to the internet while WLANs are used to connect devices to each other.
Do I connect my router to WAN or LAN? ›
A WAN port is used to connect the router to your broadband modem. Do I plug Ethernet into WAN or LAN? You need to connect your home network devices to the LAN ports on your router. WAN is only used to connect the router to the modem.
What is the difference between LAN and wireless? ›
LAN connections include both wired and wireless connections. WLAN connections are completely wireless. LAN network is a collection of computers or other such network devices in a particular location that are connected together by communication elements or network elements.
What is the main difference between a LAN and a WAN? ›
When it comes to setting up a network, it's important to understand the difference between Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN). LANs connect devices within a limited area, such as an office, while WANs connect devices that are spread across a large area, such as an entire country or even the world.
Which LAN port should I use on my router? ›
If you have a standalone modem
Connect your router to your modem using an Ethernet cable. Most routers have multiple Ethernet ports, but there's one specifically labeled “Internet” or “WAN” (wide area network) used for connecting directly to the modem.
Is wireless LAN just Wi-Fi? ›
A wireless local-area network (WLAN) is a group of colocated computers or other devices that form a network based on radio transmissions rather than wired connections. A Wi-Fi network is a type of WLAN; anyone connected to Wi-Fi while reading this webpage is using a WLAN.
What is the WAN socket for on my router? ›
WAN ports are used for establishing a connection with wide area networks like the internet. Small-scale networks (e.g., home offices or small businesses) typically use an RJ-45 Ethernet port. RJ-45 plugs and sockets look like large telephone plugs and sockets.
Which port should I plug my Ethernet cable into? ›
To establish a connection, plug the Ethernet cable into the LAN port on the device that's connected to the internet, such as a modem, router, or modem-router combo, and connect the cable to the computer, game console, or other devices at the opposite end. Voila!
To connect a router to your computer with an Ethernet cable:
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into your modem.
- Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Internet, Uplink, WAN or WLAN port on your router.
- Plug in your router and allow at least 2 to 3 minutes for it to light up.
Widespread, complex business networks are particularly challenging to protect; these can include edge and mobile networks as well as branch office networks and storage area networks (SANs). Typical internet threats include malicious software, malicious websites, email phishing, DNS poisoning, and DoS and DDoS attacks.
Is it better to use LAN or Wi-Fi? ›
An Ethernet connection is much more secure than a WiFi connection. Data on an Ethernet network can only be accessed by physically attaching a device to the network, while data on a WiFi network travels through the air and can be more easily intercepted.
How do I know if I am on Wi-Fi or LAN? ›
You can check what network connection your computer is using by looking at the Network icon in your Taskbar.
What is LAN used for? ›
A LAN enables users to connect to internal servers, websites and other LANs that belong to the same wide area network (WAN). Ethernet and Wi-Fi are the two primary ways to enable LAN connections.
What is WAN used for? ›
Wide-Area Network. In its simplest form, a wide-area network (WAN) is a collection of local-area networks (LANs) or other networks that communicate with one another. A WAN is essentially a network of networks, with the Internet the world's largest WAN.
Is A WAN the same as a LAN IP address? ›
Error "WAN ip and LAN ip are in the same subnet" means that your router is not in AP mode, but in router mode. Depending on your TP-Link router model you have two options: 1. When in router mode configure the WAN port with a static IP address 192.168.
Why is WAN red on a router? ›
But if it's off or red in color, then it's time to check to make sure that the network cable that connects the router's WAN (Internet) port (often on the back of the router) to the modem is plugged in securely and not broken in any way . If the cable is all fine, then it's time to check your cable or DSL modem's light.
