What is a virtual wide area network?
VWANs perform the reverse function for wide area networks that VLANs perform for local area networks; Where VLANs are designed to efficiently shape LAN architecture so that it behaves as if it were multiple networks, VWANs shape WAN architectures so that multiple WANs behave like a single network. Both VLANs and VWANs operate at Layer 2 (Link) of the OSI model meaning that they work at the Ethernet frame layer and therefore support the transfer of all IP protocols including VLAN tagged packets and MPLS packets. The most basic functionality of a VWAN is its ability to orchestrate a seamless link-layer connection between two remote systems that can be transferred from one wide area network to another without loss of data and without disruption to reliant applications and services. VWAN-capable entities at both ends of the WAN link manage the transfer of the connection from one network to another as data sessions traverse WAN boundaries. When multiple wide area networks are used simultane
