At its core, a wan switch refers to equipment and logical functions that perform forwarding, segregation, and management of traffic across wide area networks (WANs). Unlike a LAN switch that operates primarily within a local broadcast domain using MAC learning, a WAN switch sits at the WAN edge or. It explains switching methods (circuit switching, cell switching, and packet switching) and describes WAN terms such as CPE (devices at customer sites), demarcation point (point where provider and customer meet), local loop (connection between user and provider), CO (provider's office), toll. I am not sure if the WAN switch here refers to the actual WAN switch use for WAN switching in carrier network. I came across a network diagram, in which the WAN connection to the internet, is directly connected to switch, instead of a router or firewall In the rack (internet line from isp) --->. A WAN is a data communications network that covers a relatively broad geographic area and that often uses transmission facilities provided by common carriers, such as telephone companies. They are characterized by high port density, cost-effectiveness, security features at the edge, and often PoE support. Their primary role is to. The layer 2 switches prevent over-crowding of data packets in transmission links and access devices. Further, the data packets are forwarded to the addressed group of.