Chapter 15: WAN Restoration Planning

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15.1 Introduction

To stay competitive, companies are relying on their networks to improve customer service, pursue new business opportunities, and increase market share. A properly functioning network allows an organization to reap strategic competitive advantages over rival companies that do not appreciate the importance of properly configured, fault-tolerant networks and services. When the corporate network becomes severely congested or experiences disruption for whatever reason, companies must be positioned to implement effective service restoration solutions or risk losing customer confidence and competitive position.

WAN restoration solutions typically are implemented using a mix of carrier services and CPE. When carrier services are relied on for networking, the responsibility for restoration is primarily on the carrier. When a private network of dedicated leased lines is relied on for networking, the responsibility for restoration is primarily on the enterprise. In the former case, WAN restoration is service based; in the latter case, restoration is CPE-based. However, there are hybrid networks that consist of both private lines and public services. In such cases, WAN restoration solutions usually employed on private networks may be used in conjunction with the switched digital services offered by the major carriers.

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