Types of Computer Network: What is LAN, MAN and WAN

-

 Different Types of Computer Networks

There are various types of Computer Networking options available. The classification of network in computers can be done according to their size as well as their purpose.

The size of a network should be expressed by the geographic area and number of computers, which are a part of their networks. It includes devices housed in a single room to millions of devices spread across the world. Following are the popular types of Computer Network:

 


Types of Computer Networks

Some of the most popular computer network types are:

  • PAN (Personal Area Network)
  • LAN (Local Area Network)
  • MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
  • WAN (Wide Area Network)

Let’s study all of these types of networking in detail.

What is PAN (Personal Area Network)?

PAN (Personal Area Network) is a computer network formed around a person. It generally consists of a computer, mobile, or personal digital assistant. PAN can be used for establishing communication among these personal devices for connecting to a digital network and the internet.

Characteristics of PAN

Below are the main characteristics of PAN:

  • It is mostly personal devices network equipped within a limited area.
  • Allows you to handle the interconnection of IT devices at the surrounding of a single user.
  • PAN includes mobile devices, tablet, and laptop.
  • It can be wirelessly connected to the internet called WPAN.
  • Appliances use for PAN: cordless mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth systems.

Advantages of PAN

Here are the important pros/benefits of PAN network:

  • PAN networks are relatively secure and safe
  • It offers only short-range solution up to ten meters
  • Strictly restricted to a small area

Disadvantages of PAN

Here are the cons/drawbacks of using PAN network:

  • It may establish a bad connection to other networks at the same radio bands.
  • Distance limits.

What is a LAN (Local Area Network)?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computer and peripheral devices which are connected in a limited area such as school, laboratory, home, and office building. It is a widely useful network for sharing resources like files, printers, games, and other application. The simplest type of LAN network is to connect computers and a printer in someone’s home or office. In general, LAN will be used as one type of transmission medium. It is a network which consists of less than 5000 interconnected devices across several buildings.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Local Area Network (LAN)

Characteristics of LAN

Here are the important characteristics of a LAN network:

  • It is a private network, so an outside regulatory body never controls it.
  • LAN operates at a relatively higher speed compared to other WAN systems.
  • There are various kinds of media access control methods like token ring and ethernet.

Advantages of LAN

Here are the pros/benefits of LAN:

  • Computer resources like hard-disks, DVD-ROM, and printers can share local area networks. This significantly reduces the cost of hardware purchases.
  • You can use the same software over the network instead of purchasing the licensed software for each client in the network.
  • Data of all network users can be stored on a single hard disk of the server computer.
  • You can easily transfer data and messages over networked computers.
  • It will be easy to manage data at only one place, which makes data more secure.
  • Local Area Network offers the facility to share a single internet connection among all the LAN users.

Disadvantages of LAN

Here are the cons/drawbacks of LAN:

  • LAN will indeed save cost because of shared computer resources, but the initial cost of installing Local Area Networks is quite high.
  • The LAN admin can check personal data files of every LAN user, so it does not offer good privacy.
  • Unauthorized users can access critical data of an organization in case LAN admin is not able to secure centralized data repository.
  • Local Area Network requires a constant LAN administration as there are issues related to software setup and hardware failures

What is WAN (Wide Area Network)?

WAN (Wide Area Network) is another important computer network that which is spread across a large geographical area. WAN network system could be a connection of a LAN which connects with other LAN’s using telephone lines and radio waves. It is mostly limited to an enterprise or an organization.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Characteristics of WAN

Below are the characteristics of WAN:

  • The software files will be shared among all the users; therefore, all can access to the latest files.
  • Any organization can form its global integrated network using WAN.

Advantages of WAN

Here are the benefits/pros of WAN:

  • WAN helps you to cover a larger geographical area. Therefore business offices situated at longer distances can easily communicate.
  • Contains devices like mobile phones, laptop, tablet, computers, gaming consoles, etc.
  • WLAN connections work using radio transmitters and receivers built into client devices.

Disadvantages of WAN

Here are the drawbacks/cons of WAN network:

  • The initial setup cost of investment is very high.
  • It is difficult to maintain the WAN network. You need skilled technicians and network administrators.
  • There are more errors and issues because of the wide coverage and the use of different technologies.
  • It requires more time to resolve issues because of the involvement of multiple wired and wireless technologies.
  • Offers lower security compared to other types of network in computer.

What is MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)?

A Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is consisting of a computer network across an entire city, college campus, or a small region. This type of network is large than a LAN, which is mostly limited to a single building or site. Depending upon the type of configuration, this type of network allows you to cover an area from several miles to tens of miles.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Characteristics of MAN

Here are important characteristics of the MAN network:

  • It mostly covers towns and cities in a maximum 50 km range
  • Mostly used medium is optical fibers, cables
  • Data rates adequate for distributed computing applications.

Advantages of MAN

Here are the pros/benefits of MAN network:

  • It offers fast communication using high-speed carriers, like fiber optic cables.
  • It provides excellent support for an extensive size network and greater access to WANs.
  • The dual bus in MAN network provides support to transmit data in both directions concurrently.
  • A MAN network mostly includes some areas of a city or an entire city.

Disadvantages of MAN

Here are drawbacks/cons of using the MAN network:

  • You need more cable to establish MAN connection from one place to another.
  • In MAN network it is tough to make the system secure from hackers

Other Types of Computer Networks

Apart from above mentioned computer networks, here are some other important types of networks:

  • WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
  • Storage Area Network
  • System Area Network
  • Home Area Network
  • POLAN- Passive Optical LAN
  • Enterprise private network
  • Campus Area Network
  • Virtual Area Network

Let’s see all these different types of networks in detail:

1) WLAN

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) helps you to link single or multiple devices using wireless communication within a limited area like home, school, or office building. It gives users an ability to move around within a local coverage area which may be connected to the network. Today most modern day’s WLAN systems are based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

2) Storage-Area Network (SAN)

A Storage Area Network is a type of network which allows consolidated, block-level data storage. It is mainly used to make storage devices, like disk arrays, optical jukeboxes, and tape libraries.

3) System-Area Network

System Area Network is used for a local network. It offers high-speed connection in server-to-server and processor-to-processor applications. The computers connected on a SAN network operate as a single system at quite high speed.

4) Passive Optical Local Area Network

POLAN is a networking technology which helps you to integrate into structured cabling. It allows you to resolve the issues of supporting Ethernet protocols and network apps.

POLAN allows you to use optical splitter which helps you to separate an optical signal from a single-mode optical fiber. It converts this single signal into multiple signals.

5) Home Area Network (HAN):

A Home Area Network is always built using two or more interconnected computers to form a local area network (LAN) within the home. For example, in the United States, about 15 million homes have more than one computer.

These types of network connections help computer owners to interconnect with multiple computers. This network allows sharing files, programs, printers, and other peripherals.

6) Enterprise Private Network :

Enterprise private network (EPN) networks are build and owned by businesses that want to securely connect numerous locations in order to share various computer resources.

7) Campus Area Network (CAN):

A Campus Area Network is made up of an interconnection of LANs within a specific geographical area. For example, a university campus can be linked with a variety of campus buildings to connect all the academic departments.

8) Virtual Private Network:

A VPN is a private network which uses a public network to connect remote sites or users together. The VPN network uses “virtual” connections routed through the internet from the enterprise’s private network or a third-party VPN service to the remote site.

It is a free or paid service that keeps your web browsing secure and private over public WiFi hotspots.

Summary

  • Types of connections in computer networks can be categorized according to their size as well as their purpose
  • PAN is a computer network which generally consists of a computer, mobile, or personal digital assistant
  • LAN (Local Area Network) is a group of computer and peripheral devices which are connected in a limited area
  • WAN (Wide Area Network) is another important computer network that which is spread across a large geographical area
  • A metropolitan area network or MAN is consisting of a computer network across an entire city, college campus, or a small region
  • WLAN is a wireless local area network that helps you to link single or multiple devices using. It uses wireless communication within a limited area like home, school, or office building.
  • SAN is a storage area network is a type of network which allows consolidated, block-level data storage
  • System area network offers high-speed connection in server-to-server applications, storage area networks, and processor-to-processor applications
  • POLAN is a networking technology which helps you to integrate into structured cabling
  • Home network (HAN) is a always built using two or more interconnected computers to form a local area network (LAN) within the home
  • Enterprise private network (EPN) networks are build and owned by businesses that want to securely connect various locations
  • Campus area network (CAN) is made up of an interconnection of LANs in a specific geographical area
  • A VPN is a private network which uses a public network to connect remote sites or users together
  • What does LAN stand for? – LAN stands for Local Area Network.
  • What is the difference between LAN and WAN? – LAN is a computer network that covers a small geographic area, like a home, office, or group of buildings, while WAN is a computer network that covers a broader area.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Post

My Printer Not Connecting

-
Image
 If you are having an issue with installing a printer or getting other issues dealing with a printer or printer setup on the computer, try this troubleshooter.  If a step doesn't apply, skip to next step  1. Turn computer off  2. Turn printer off 3. Disconnect power to printer for 2 minutes  4. Turn printer back on  5. Wait one minute  6. Make sure all connections are good  7. If your printer has both parallel and USB connectors, only have one of the two connected and not both. The USB is faster. (most new systems do not have parallel connections)  8. Turn computer back on  9. Make sure the printer has ink  10. Is the printer networked? If so is it connected to the network via computer or router. If it is connected via a computer and the computer is off, the other systems will not see it.  11. Make sure the dependencies to the print spool is started  12. Check the manufacturer of the printer to see if there is a newer driver for the printer.  13. Check the manufacturer for any patc
Read more

RESISTOR TESTING

-
Image
1- Visual inspection: Checks for missing or any burning on resistance.   2- Using Digital Multimeter: You can check the resistor resistance by selecting the ohm range in the digital multimeter, If the resistor is in circuit, you will generally have to remove the resistor so you are testing only the resistor value and not the other components in the circuit.   Connect test probes across the two points of the resistor as shown in the photo, polarity isn’t important, value of resistance shown is 9.86 kΩ. Note: All resistors have a specific tolerance rating. The tolerance rating is marked by a color band on the end of the resistor’s body, normally the band is gold indicating 5 % tolerance. If the tolerance band is silver, then the rating is 10 %. How to test SMD Resistors: Because of the small size of SMD resistors, there is often not room for the traditional color band code to be printed on them. Therefore, new resistor SMD codes were developed. The most commonly seen codes are the three
Read more

HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

-
Image
   As a Laptop technician, you must understand a basic rule of business, time is money.      Whether you are boss or work for someone else, the ability to identify and isolate a Laptop fault quickly and decisively is very important to the success of your business. It requires some common sense, and a little bit of focus. It also requires an understanding of the troubleshooting process, and reliable plan of action. Even though the number of Laptop configuration and setups are virtually unlimited, the methodology used to approach each repair is always about the same. This introduction is intended to isolate the concepts of basic troubleshooting and show you how to apply basic laptop repair steps that will help you narrow the problem down before you even take a screwdriver to the Laptop. By applying a constant technique. You can safe precious time from every laptop repair. The General Troubleshooting Steps Regardless of how your particular Laptop might be, a dependable Troubleshooting ste
Read more

INTRODUCTION TO CHIP-LEVEL TECHNOLOGY

-
Image
Chapter 1: Introduction to Chip-Level Technology     1.1 What is Chip-Level Technology?   Explanation of chip-level technology: Delving into the microscopic world of electronic components and circuits. How chip-level technicians work at the heart of devices to diagnose and repair intricate issues.  1.2 Importance of Chip-Level Expertise   Highlighting the significance of chip-level technicians in repairing complex electronic devices. Examples of devices where chip-level expertise is crucial: smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and more Chapter 2: Basics of Electronic Components   2.1 Understanding Electronic Components Introduction to fundamental components: resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits (ICs). How components combine to create circuits, allowing devices to function. 2.2 Role of Components in a Circuit Explanation of how each component contributes to the overall operation of a circuit. Examples: res
Read more

How to Hack WiFi Password: Guide to Crack Wi-Fi Network

-
What is Cybercrime? Cybercrime is defined as an unlawful action against any person using a computer, its systems, and its online or offline applications. It occurs when information technology is used to commit or cover an offense. However, the act is only considered Cybercrime if it is intentional and not accidental. In this tutorial, you will learn: What is Cybercrime? Example of Cybercrime Cybercrime Attack Types Cyber Crime Tools Example of Cybercrime Here, are some most commonly occurring Cybercrimes: The fraud did by manipulating computer network Unauthorized access to or modification of data or application Intellectual property theft that includes software piracy Industrial spying and access to or theft of computer materials Writing or spreading computer viruses or malware Digitally distributing child pornography Cybercrime Attack Types Cybercrime can attack in various ways. Here, is some most common cybercrime attack mode: Hacking: It is an act
Read more

IP Address: internet protocol

-
Image
   What is an IP address?     An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.     It serves two main functions: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the device in the network. Types of IP addresses:     IPv4: This is the most common type of IP address used today. It consists of four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.0.1). IPv4 allows for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.     IPv6: With the increasing number of connected devices, IPv6 was introduced to address the depletion of IPv4 addresses. It uses eight sets of numbers separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). IPv6 provides a significantly larger address space. How IP addresses work:     When a device wants to communicate with another device over the internet, it needs to know the destination device's IP ad
Read more
-
Image
j BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is an essential firmware embedded in a computer's motherboard that initializes hardware components and enables the operating system to boot. Sometimes, updating or reprogramming the BIOS becomes necessary to fix compatibility issues, add new features, or enhance system performance. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of BIOS reprogramming, covering the necessary steps and precautions to ensure a successful update. Understand the Purpose of BIOS Reprogramming : Before proceeding with BIOS reprogramming, it's crucial to understand why you need to update or reprogram it. Common reasons include resolving hardware compatibility issues, improving system stability, fixing security vulnerabilities, enabling new features, or supporting updated hardware. Make sure to identify the specific need for reprogramming to avoid unnecessary updates that could potentially cause problems. Research and Gather Necessary Materials : Begin by re
Read more