Today’s businesses use multiple sources of connectivity to support diverse network needs. Often these are dedicated lines that support specific tasks or multiple lines added as the business grew and adopted more network-based activity.

However, the unplanned approach to growth has left multiple gaps in network connectivity. When a dedicated line goes down or gets overloaded, leftover available bandwidth on other lines doesn’t pick up the slack. As such, the business may be paying for vastly more connectivity than it’s actually capable of using at any given time or failing to take full advantage of all of its connections.

One solution to this challenge is WAN aggregation. By pulling multiple connections into one single link, WAN aggregation enables businesses to enhance the reliability and throughput of their network while minimizing latency.

Fully leverage multiple network connections

WAN aggregation combines multiple independent WAN connections, such as broadband, DSL, or Wi-Fi connections from different ISPs, into one aggregated WAN connection. This helps maximize the available bandwidth and improves overall network performance. WAN links are aligned in parallel to create a more robust and efficient wide area network (WAN), which integrates seamlessly with routers and uses technologies like Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to manage data flow efficiently. Each element of an aggregated WAN must be understood to ensure the entire system functions as intended.

Routers are a key element in an aggregated WAN. The router uses several WAN ports to connect different internet sources, such as DSL, broadband, cellular, satellite, or fiber optic connections. Routers often include both hardware and software capabilities to efficiently manage multiple inputs, while built-in configuration tools allow administrators to set various parameters to optimize WAN port utilization.

WAN aggregation also relies on robust failover mechanisms to automatically reroute traffic if one ISP or connection fails. Seamless switching prevents downtime and ensures that network services remain uninterrupted, which is critical for businesses and services that rely on real-time data and continuous communication.

These systems often incorporate real-time monitoring tools that enable network administrators to continuously assess link status, throughput, and latency, allowing for timely adjustments and troubleshooting. Optimization features allow administrators to tweak settings based on real-time data to ensure each connection is being used to its full potential.

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Careful planning ensures optimal results

Integrating WAN aggregation into existing network infrastructure requires careful planning and setup. Compatibility with current routers, modems, and network devices must be considered to ensure smooth deployment. Enterprises may also integrate WAN aggregation with firewalls, VPNs, and other security measures to maintain robust network protection while expanding connectivity capabilities.

Properly deployed, WAN aggregation creates one logical link that dynamically balances data loads for optimal performance. The LACP is commonly used to facilitate this process, coordinating the flow of data across connections to ensure they all work together efficiently. Distributing incoming and outgoing network traffic evenly across all available WAN links minimizes congestion for any single connection. By balancing the network load, organizations can maximize throughput, minimize latency, and enhance the overall user experience.

Support numerous use cases with superior reliability and maximized network usage

The capabilities of WAN aggregation make it a powerful technique for a variety of industry applications.

For data centers, which require consistent uptime to move massive amounts of data, WAN aggregation minimizes congestion and downtime as traffic fluctuates, leading to better service delivery and operational efficiency.

WAN aggregation plays a crucial role in managing a myriad of connected devices and providing real-time data processing and transmission for IoT deployments by maintaining the required speed and stability.

Businesses with geographically dispersed branches leverage WAN aggregation to optimize their inter-branch connectivity. Improved load balancing ensures that each location can handle its network traffic effectively. Additionally, having multiple WAN connections reduces the risk of a single point of failure, thus enhancing redundancy and ensuring continuous business operations.

Work-from-home arrangements that need high-speed internet can also benefit from WAN aggregation, particularly as households themselves place greater demands on networks with online gaming and 4K streaming. Combining multiple internet connections can significantly boost capacity and ensure work-from-home connections remain stable.

Similarly, educational institutions can leverage WAN aggregation to meet the digital demands of modern classrooms. Increasing available bandwidth facilitates a better user experience for students and educators using virtual learning platforms, streaming educational content, or conducting video conferencing.

Deploy an industry-leading solution with Inseego

Inseego offers a comprehensive approach to WAN aggregation with a robust suite of products and services tailored to meet the diverse needs of modern networks. Central to this offering are advanced cellular routers equipped with multiple WAN connections that effortlessly integrate various internet sources such as DSL, broadband, and cellular. This flexibility combines traditional broadband with cellular connectivity for seamless WAN aggregation, enhancing bandwidth and redundancy.

Robust failover mechanisms in our solutions ensure continuous network uptime. With dual-WAN failover capabilities, our cellular routers seamlessly switch your network from any other connectivity type to cellular connections when your connection fails. The inclusion of dual-SIM card slots provides an additional failover layer, allowing automatic switching to a secondary cellular network if the primary connection is disrupted. This dual-layer failover strategy is essential for maintaining uninterrupted services during outages.

Inseego Connect and cloud-based 5G SD EDGE software offer real-time monitoring and optimization features that empower network administrators with insights into performance and device status. These features enable remote management, early issue detection, and real-time adjustments to optimize network efficiency. By leveraging these capabilities, Inseego ensures that WAN aggregation is implemented with maximum effectiveness, delivering a reliable and high-performance network infrastructure adaptable to both business and home network environments.

Contact us today to stay connected with minimal downtime and maximize your network’s potential with cutting-edge wireless network solutions.