TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS

Networks are distinguished based on their geographical span. A network can as large as the internet or be as small as distance between your mobile phone and its Bluetooth headphone.

Depending upon the geographical area covered by a network, it is classified as:

– Local Area Network (LAN)

– Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

– Wide Area Network (WAN)

– Personal Area Network (PAN)

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a network that is used for communicating among computer devices, usually within an office building or home.

• LAN’s enable the sharing of resources such as files or hardware devices that may be needed by multiple users

• Is limited in size, typically spanning a few hundred meters, and no more than a mile

• Is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps

• Requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to each device

• Has lower cost compared to MAN’s or WAN’s.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large computer network that usually spans a city or a

large campus.

• A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than a LAN, ranging from several blocks of

buildings to entire cities.

• A MAN might be owned and operated by a single organization, but it usually will be used

by many individuals and organizations.

• A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow sharing of regional resources.

• A MAN typically covers an area of between 5 and 50 km diameter.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN covers a large geographic area such as country, continent or even whole of the world.

• A WAN is two or more LANs connected together. The LANs can be many miles apart.

• To cover great distances, WANs may transmit data over leased high-speed phone lines or wireless links such as satellites.

Multiple LANs can be connected together using devices such as bridges, routers, or gateways, which enable them to share data.

• The world's most popular WAN is the Internet.

Personal Area Network

A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest network which is very personal to a user. This may include Bluetooth enabled devices or infra-red enabled devices. PAN has connectivity range up to 10 meters.

A PAN is a network that is used for communicating among computers and computer devices (including telephones) in close proximity of around a few meters within a room.