WAN Performance Monitor

Definition - What does WAN Performance Monitor mean?

A Wide Area Network (WAN) performance monitor is a system for evaluating and monitoring the performance of a WAN.

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Techopedia explains WAN Performance Monitor

In contrast to a Local Area Network (LAN), a WAN uses third-party telecommunication lines to distribute data over a broader area.

These larger types of networks require different monitoring systems for effective management. WAN performance monitor tools can test for network issues such as latency and packet loss. Typically, users evaluate network traffic to between different network sites, and look at how data flows from a server to client systems and beyond.

A variety of WAN performance monitor resources allow for different kinds of monitoring. Some of these may include dashboards or other interfaces to measure jitter or other deviations in packet routing. A WAN performance monitor also may help to answer questions about service level agreements (SLA) when poor performance is a factor.

Some network administrators may use WAN performance monitor tools consistently to monitor performance over time or to troubleshoot situations where voice and data connections do not seem consistent or stable.