The most general definition of a Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that covers a broad area, using public or private network transports. In this chapter, we're going to analyze the scenario of a remote user who needs to access an application published by a XenApp farm located in your datacenter.
The connection between the user and your infrastructure may be on a private link (usually a leased line) or on a public network (usually the Internet). The most important parameters of a link are:
The available bandwidth
The latency
The reliability
A common belief is that bandwidth is the main problem in remote connections; this is usually false. A fast access to the Internet is now available in most countries and also mobile operators can offer high-speed connections (HDSPA, LTE, and so on). Dedicated links can be leased with guaranteed bandwidth and, with technologies such as MPLS, carriers now offer geographic links with high speed.