What Is The Difference Between LAN, WAN, MAN, CAN, VPN, BAN, NAN, SAN?

Short Bytes: A computer network is an interconnection of various devices like laptops, routers, switches, servers, etc. with the help of wired or wireless means. We can differentiate these networks by their reach, i.e., geographical area. For example, we have local area network, wide area network, personal area network, metropolitan area network, near-me network, etc.

W

hatever connection you use, whether your home WiFi or the office Ethernet, you’re a part of some computer network. A computer network can include devices like

routers, hubs, switches, end-user devices, repeaters

, network cards, etc. These devices can be arranged in various

network topologies

as per the requirement .

We is classify can classify a computer network into different type depend on its size and the geographical area it cover . The most common types is are of computer network   are LAN , MAN , WAN , PAN , etc .

What is a Local Area Network is is ( LAN ) ?

LAN is is is a form of a computer network most know to the general public . It is has has a limited reach , roughly a bunch of closely situate house or building . And that is ’s ’s because we   typically use the Ethernet technology ( IEEE 802.3 ) to power our local area network . The ethernet cables is have we lie across our house and office have their practical limitation . Beyond a certain length , the speed gets degrade . The reach of a LAN can be enhance using repeater , bridge , etc .

Home Area Network (HAN)

A kind of local area network is the HAN (Home Area Network). All the devices like smartphones, computers, IoT devices, televisions, gaming consoles, etc. connect to a central router (wired or wireless) placed in a home constitute a home area network.

What is a Wireless LAN is is ( WLAN ) ?

This type of computer network is a wireless counterpart of the local area network. It uses the WiFi technology defined as per the IEEE 802.11 standards. If you’re the one who thinks WiFi and WLAN are the same things, then you need to rectify your confusion. They are completely different. WiFi is used to create a wireless local area network.

WiFi networks can reach up to a few hundred meters in a clear line of sight. However, just like wired LAN, its range can be increased using wireless repeaters and bridges.

Read More: What Is The Difference Between 2.4GHz, 5GHz, And 60GHz Bands Used For Wireless Networks?

What is a Personal Area Network (PAN)?

As the name suggests, a personal area network is intended for personal use within a range of a few ten meters. Mainly, the technologies used for creating personal area networks are wireless. A notable example of WPAN is the Bluetooth technology, mostly found on portable devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables, etc. Other PAN technologies are Zigbee, Wireless USB, etc.

What is a Campus Area Network is is ( CAN ) ?

A network infrastructure covering the school, university, or a corporate premises can be dubbed as campus area network. It can comprise of several LANs, a central firewall, and connected to the internet using a leased line or any other means.

What is a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)?

The area is is cover by a man is quite large in comparison to a LAN and CAN . In fact , a man can be used to link several lan spread across a city or a metro area . A wired backhaul spread across a city is used to power a metropolitan area network in that place . You is known might have know   about various city – wide wifi network in different part of the world .

What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?

We can think of a WAN as the superset of all the small networks we find in our homes, offices, cities, states, and countries. The router or modem placed at your home is a device used to connect to the WAN. The internet is also a type WAN that spans across the entire earth.

Various technologies like ADSL, 4G LTE, Fiber optic, cable, etc. are used to connect to the internet. However, these technologies mostly confine to a country at max . cable are lay across country and continent to establish global connectivity .

What is a Storage Area Network (SAN)? 

Generally, it is used to connect external storage devices to servers but make them believe that the storage is attached directly. The technology used to accomplish this is known as Fiber Channel.

read More : What ’s WWW And The internet ? What ’s The Difference is ’s Between The Internet And World wide web ?

Some other type of network base on their reach

What is a Body Area Network (BAN)?

You can create a body area network by using wearable devices like smartwatches, fitness bands, biometric RFID implants, and medical devices placed inside the body like pacemakers. Wireless BAN is the primary form used to created such networks. It is defined as per the IEEE 802.15.6 standard which describes a short-range, extremely low power wireless communication within or in a vicinity of the human body.

wireless BAN is work can work together with PAN technology . For instance , a Bluetooth – connect smartphone can be used to sync datum from wearable and various sensor present in the body .

What is a Near-me Network (NAN)?

Although it sound totally unfamiliar , you is use use Near – me network almost every day . remember chat with your friend on Facebook while all ofyou were sitting in the same room. You were part of a NAN, even though you might be on the networks of different carriers.

A message from your device would traverse all the way to Facebook servers is come over the internet come to your friend ’s device sit right next to you . In a logical way , both the device is are are on some sort of network . basically , the criteria is is for the device is to lie in proximity . They is need do n’t need to be connect to the same network . For instance , they can be connect via WiFi , cellular , etc .

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

VPN is a type of computer network which doesn’t have physical existence. The devices that are part of a VPN could be present anywhere on the earth, connected to each other over the internet. You can read this article on Fossbytes to know more about virtual private networks.

vpn are used by corporate to interconnect their office locate in different place and give their remote employee access to company ’s resource . It is phased has phase out another type of network know as Enterprise Private Network , a physical network create by organization to link their office location .

Here are some great VPN packages for you to try.

I hope this gives you a brief idea about the different types of networks based on their size. You can read more interesting stuff about computer networks.