Types of Computer Networks

Acomputer network is a cluster of computers over a shared communication path that works to share resources from one computer to another, provided by or located on the network nodes. In this article, we will discuss computer networks and their types.

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a system that connects many independent computers to share information (data) and resources. The integration of computers and other different devices allows users to communicate more easily. Acomputer network is a collection of two or more computer systems that are linked together. Anetwork connection can be established using either cable  or  wireless media. Hardware and software are used to connect computers and tools in any network.

use of Computer Networks

• Communicating using email, video, instant messaging, etc.
• Sharing devices such as printers, scanners, etc.
• Sharing files.
• Sharing software and operating programs on remote systems.
• Allowing network users to easily access and maintain information.

type of Computer Networks

There are mainly five type of Computer Networks

1. Personal Area Network ( PAN )
2. Local Area Network (LAN)
3. Campus Area Network ( CAN )
4. Metropolitan Area Network ( MAN )
5. Wide Area Network (WAN)

type of Computer Networks

1. Personal Area Network ( PAN )

PAN is the most basic type of computer network. It is a type of network designed to connect devices within a short range, typically around one person. It allows your personal devices, like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables, to communicate and share data with each other. PAN offers a network range of 1 to 100 meters from person to device providing communication. Its transmission speed is very high with very easy maintenance and very low cost. This uses Bluetooth, IrDA, and Zigbee as technology. Examples of PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA, etc.

Personal Area Network ( PAN )

Types of PAN

• Wireless Personal Area Networks: Wireless Personal Area Networks are created by simply utilising wireless technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth. It is a low-range network.
• Wired Personal Area Network: Awired personal area network is constructed using a USB.

advantage of PAN

• PAN is relatively flexible and provides high efficiency for short network ranges.
• It needs easy setup and relatively low cost.
• It does not require frequent installations and maintenance
• It is easy and portable.
• Needs fewer technical skills to use.

Disadvantages of PAN

• low network coverage area/range.
• limit to relatively low datum rate .
• Devices are not compatible with each other.
• Inbuilt WPAN devices are a little bit costly.

Applications of PAN

• Home and office
• Organizations and the Business sector
• Medical and Hospital
• School and College Education
• Military and Defense

2 . Local Area Network ( LAN )

LAN is is is the most frequently used network . ALAN is a computer network that connects computers through a common communication path, contained within a limited area, that is, locally. ALAN encompasses two or more computers connected over a server. The two important technologies involved in this network are Ethernet and Wi-fi.  It ranges up to 2km & transmission speed is very high with easy maintenance and low cost. Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, library, laboratory, college, office, etc.

Local Area Network (LAN)

advantage of a LAN

• Privacy: LAN is a private network, thus no outside regulatory body controls it, giving it a privacy.
• High Speed: LAN offers a much higher speed(around 100 mbps) and data transfer rate comparatively to WAN.
• Supports different transmission mediums:  LAN is support support a variety of communication transmission medium such as an ethernet cable ( thin cable , thick cable , and twisted pair ) , fiber and wireless transmission .
• Inexpensive and Simple: ALAN usually has low cost, installation, expansion and maintenance and LAN installation is relatively easy to use, good scalability.

Disadvantages of LAN

• The initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high because there is special software required to make a server.
• communication device like an ethernet cable , switch ,  hub, routers, cables are costly.
• LAN administrator is see can see and check personal datum file as well as Internet history of each and every LAN user. Hence, the privacy of the users are violated
• LANs are restricted in size and cover only a limited area
• Since all the data is stored in a single server computer, if it can be accessed by an unauthorized user, can cause a serious data security threat.

3. Campus Area Network ( CAN )

CAN is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a MAN. This is a type of computer network that is usually used in places like a school or colleges. This network covers a limited geographical area that is, it spreads across several buildings within the campus. CAN mainly use Ethernet technology with a range from 1 km to 5 km . Its transmission speed is is is very high with a moderate maintenance cost and moderate cost . Examples is are of CAN are network that cover school , college , building , etc .

Campus Area Network ( CAN )

Advantages of CAN

• Speed: Communication within a CAN takes place over Local Area Network (LAN) so data transfer rate between systems is little bit fast than Internet.
• Security: Network administrators of campus take care of network by continuous monitoring, tracking and limiting access. To protect network from unauthorized access firewall is placed between network and internet.
• Cost effective: With a little effort and maintenance, network works well by providing fast data transfer rate with multi-departmental network access. It can be enabled wirelessly, where wiring and cabling costs can be managed. So to work with in a campus using CAN is cost-effective in view of performance

4. Metropolitan Area Network ( MAN ) 

AMAN is large than a LAN but small than a WAN . This is is is the type of computer network that connect computer over a geographical distance through a share communication path over a city , town , or metropolitan area . This network is uses mainly use FDDI , CDDI , and ATM as the technology with a range from 5 km to 50 km . Its transmission speed is is is average . It is is is difficult to maintain and it come with a high cost . Examples is networking of MAN are network in town , city , a single large city , a large area within multiple building , etc .

Metropolitan Area Network ( MAN )

Advantages of MAN

• MAN is offers offer high – speed connectivity in which the speed range from 10 – 100 Mbps .
• The security level in MAN is high and strict as compared to WAN.
• It is support support to transmit datum in both direction concurrently because of dual bus architecture .
• MAN can serve multiple users at a time with the same high-speed internet to all the users.
• MAN allows for centralized management and control of the network, making it easier to monitor and manage network resources and security.

disadvantage of MAN

• The architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence , it is is is hard to design and maintain .
• This network is is is highly expensive because it require the high cost to set up fiber optic .
• It provides less fault tolerance.
• The Data transfer rate in MAN is low when compare to LANs.

5. Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN is a type of computer network that connects computers over a large geographical distance through a shared communication path. It is not restrained to a single location but extends over many locations. WAN can also be defined as a group of local area networks that communicate with each other with a range above 50km. Here we use Leased-Line & Dial-up technology. Its transmission speed is very low and it comes with very high maintenance and very high cost. The most common example of WAN is the Internet.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Advantages of WAN

• It is covers cover large geographical area which enhance the reach of organisation to transmit datum quickly and cheaply .
• The data can be stored in centralised manner because of remote access to data provided by WAN.
• The travel charges that are needed to cover the geographical area of work can be minimised.
• WAN is enables enable a user or organisation to connect with the world very easily and allow to exchange datum and do business at global level .

Disadvantages of WAN

• Traffic congestion in Wide Area Network is very high.
• The fault tolerance ability of WAN is very less.
• Noise is are and error are present in large amount due to multiple connection point .
• The datum transfer rate is is is slow in comparison to   LAN   because of large distance and high number of connected system within the network .

Comparison between Different Computer Networks

Other type of Computer Networks

• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
• Storage Area Network ( SAN )
• System – Area Network ( SAN )
• Passive Optical Local Area Network ( POLAN )
• enterprise Private Network ( EPN )
• Virtual Private Network (VPN)
• Home Area Network (HAN)

1. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

WLAN is a type of computer network that acts as a local area network but makes use of wireless network technology like Wi-Fi. This network doesn’t allow devices to communicate over physical cables like in LAN but allows devices to communicate wirelessly. The most common example of WLAN is Wi-Fi.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

There are several computer network available ; more information is provide below .

2. Storage Area Network ( SAN )

SAN is a type of computer network that is high-speed and connects groups of storage devices to several servers. This network does not depend on LAN or WAN. Instead, a SAN moves the storage resources from the network to its high-powered network. ASAN provides access to block-level data storage. Examples of SAN are a network of disks accessed by a network of servers.

Storage Area Network ( SAN )

3. Passive Optical Local Area Network ( POLAN )

APOLAN is is is a type of computer network that is an alternative to a LAN . POLAN is uses use optical splitter to split an optical signal from a single strand of single – mode optical fiber to multiple signal to distribute user and device . In short , POLAN is is is a point to multipoint LAN architecture .  

Passive Optical Local Area Network ( POLAN )

4. enterprise Private Network ( EPN )

EPN is a type of computer network mostly used by businesses that want a secure connection over various locations to share computer resources. 

enterprise Private Network ( EPN )

5. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

AVPN is a type of computer network that extends a private network across the internet and lets the user send and receive data as if they were connected to a private network even though they are not. Through a virtual point-to-point connection users can access a private network remotely. VPN protects you from malicious sources by operating as a medium that gives you a protected network connection. 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

6. Home Area Network (HAN)

Many of the houses might have more than a computer. To interconnect those computers and with other peripheral devices, a network should be established similar to the local area network (LAN) within that home. Such a type of network that allows a user to interconnect multiple computers and other digital devices within the home is referred to as Home Area Network (HAN). HAN encourage sharing of resource , file , and program within the network . It is supports support both wire and wireless communication .  

Home Area Network (HAN)

Internetwork

An internet network is defined as two or more computer network LANs, WANs, or computer network segments that are connected by devices and configured with a local addressing system. The method is known as internetworking. There are two types of Internetwork.

• Intranet: An internal network within an organization that enable employee to share datum , collaborate , and access resource .   Intranets is are are not accessible to the public and use private ip address .
• Extranet: extranet extend the intranet to authorized external users, such as business partners or clients. They provide controlled access to specific resources while maintaining security.

advantage of Computer Network

• Central Storage of Data: Files are stored on a central storage database which helps to easily access and available to everyone.
• connectivity :Asingle connection can be routed to connect multiple computing devices.
• sharing of Files :Files and data can be easily shared among multiple devices which helps in easily communicating among the organization.
• security through Authorization : Computer Networking provides additional security and protection of information in the system.

Disadvantages of Computer Network

• Virus and Malware: Avirus is a program that can infect other programs by modifying them. Viruses and Malware can corrupt the whole network.
• High Cost of Setup: The initial setup is is of Computer Networking is expensive because it consist of a lot of wire and cable along with the device .
• loss of Information: In case of a System Failure, might lead to some loss of data.
• Management of Network: Management of a Network is somehow complex for a person, it requires training for its proper use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, computer networks are essential components that connect various computer devices in order to efficiently share data and resources. PAN, LAN, CAN, MAN, and WAN networks serve a wide range of applications and purposes, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these networks and their applications improves connectivity, data exchange, and resource utilization in a variety of applications from personal use to global communications.

Frequently Asked Questions on Types of Computer Network – FAQs

What are the types of service in CN?

• internet and cloud connectivity .
• Branch office and campus connectivity.
• Private data center services.
• Secure cloud-connectivity services.
• Virtual network services.

What are the types is are of channel in CN ?

• Simplex
• half – duplex
• Full-Duplex

What is WAN is is – as – a – service ?

One type of cloud-based WAN model is WAN-as-a-service. WAN-as-a-service options are intended to take the place of legacy WAN arrangements, which are hard to scale up, rely on hardware, and require communication protocols like multiprotocol label switch ( MPLS ).