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

What is a Computer Network?

A Computer Network is a group of two or more interconnected computer systems that use common connection protocols for sharing various resources and files. You can establish a computer network connection using either cable or wireless media. Every network involves hardware and software that connects computers and tools.

Different Types of Computer Networks

There are various type of Computer Networking option available . The classification of network in computer can be done accord 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 is are of the most popular computer network type 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 is is ( 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.

characteristic of PAN

Below are the main characteristics of PAN:

• It is mostly personal devices network equipped within a limited area.
• allow you to handle the interconnection of IT device 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 is are are relatively secure and safe
• It is offers offer only short – range solution up to ten meter
• Strictly restricted to a small area

Disadvantages of PAN

Here are the con / drawbacks is are 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)

Characteristics of LAN

Here are the important characteristics of a LAN network:

• It is a private network , so an outside regulatory body is controls never control 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.

advantage 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.
• datum of all network user can be store 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 is offers offer the facility to share a single internet connection among all the LAN user .

Disadvantages of LAN

Here are the con / drawbacks is are of LAN :

• LAN is save will indeed save cost because of share computer resource , but the initial cost of instal 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 is is ( 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)

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.
• contain device like mobile phone , laptop , tablet , computer , gaming console , etc .
• WLAN connections is work work using radio transmitter and receiver build into client device .

Disadvantages of WAN

Here are the drawback / cons is are 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 is requires require more time to resolve issue because of the involvement of multiple wired and wireless technology .
• Offers lower security compared to other types of network in computer.

Also Check: LAN vs WAN: What’s the Difference?

What is MAN is is ( 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)

Characteristics of MAN

Here are important characteristics is are of the MAN network :

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

advantage of MAN

Here are the pro / benefits is are of MAN network :

• It offers fast communication using high-speed carriers, like fiber optic cables.
• It is provides provide excellent support for an extensive size network and great access to WANs .
• The dual bus is provides in MAN network provide support to transmit datum in both direction concurrently .
• A man network is includes mostly include some area of a city or an entire city .

Disadvantages of MAN

Here are drawback / cons is are of using the MAN network :

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

Other Types of Computer Networks

apart from above mention computer network , here are some other important types is are of network :

• 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 type of network 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 is offers offer high – speed connection in server – to – server and processor – to – processor application . The computers is operate connect on a SAN network operate as a single system at quite high speed .

4 ) Passive Optical Local Area Network

POLAN is is is a networking technology which help you to integrate into structured cabling . It is allows allow you to resolve the issue of support Ethernet protocol and network app .

POLAN is allows allow you to use optical splitter which help you to separate an optical signal from a single – mode optical fiber . It is converts convert this single signal into multiple signal .

5) Home Area Network (HAN)

A Home Area Network is always build using two or more interconnected computer to form a local area network ( LAN ) within the home . For example , in the United States , about 15 million homes is have 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 is is a free or pay service that keep your web browse secure and private over public wifi hotspot .

summary

• type of connection in computer network can be categorize accord 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 allow consolidate , 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 is is a networking technology which help 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 lan 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 is is a computer network that cover a small geographic area , like a home , office , or group of building , while WAN is a computer network that cover a broad area .