mixednetwork
Mixednetwork is a term used to describe a large-scale network environment that interconnects multiple distinct network technologies, domains, and administration boundaries into a cohesive system. In a mixednetwork, wired LANs, wireless LANs, cellular access, and satellite links can all carry traffic under unified policy and addressing schemes. The goal is seamless data delivery and centralized management across heterogeneous infrastructures.
Key components include edge devices such as routers and gateways, wireless access points, load balancers, and
Operation relies on encapsulation to connect disparate segments, e.g., IPsec or GRE tunnels, overlay networks, and
Applications include corporate campuses that span multiple buildings, data centers with multiple fabrics, Internet of Things
Standards and references: mixednetwork is not a formal standard; it relates to convergence trends such as SDN,
Challenges and advantages: complexity of managing heterogeneous devices and policies; security segmentation; performance guarantees; and operational