Network Types

Network Types

There are two types of networks:

• Local Area Network (LAN) is a network typically contained wholly within a single site and entirely owned and controlled by a single organisation.

• Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that spreads over a geographically large area. It is characterized by its dependence on Public Telecommunications Providers for either dial-up or dedicated services.

In addition to these traditional two there is another type of network called MAN.

• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a large network usually spanning a university or a city. It typically uses wireless infrastructure or optical fiber connections to link its sites. 

Features of Local Area Networks (LANs)

• Computers in a LAN are usually close to each other, usually in the same building
• Each computer and peripheral is an individual node on the LAN
• Nodes in regular networks are connected to the LAN via cables
• Nodes in wireless networks connect via radio or infrared links
• Computers on a LAN do not have to be the same brand or use the same operating systems, but they have to use the same network protocols, such as Ethernet or Token Ring
• LANs in a work area, such as a classroom or a building, are connected to each other with high speed networking connections called the network backbone

Features of Wide Area Networks (WANs)

• Most WANs are private and are owned by the business that operate them
• WANs are the network infrastructure connections that are used to connect remote LANs to each other
• A LAN is a node on a WAN
• Typically WAN connections are slower than LAN connections
• There are several different types of WAN designs. The design of the WAN, also called the topology of the WAN, determines the cost, reliability and speed of the network
• WANs can extend over great distances and may span the globe

1. Network Classfications

Table 1.1 shows a summery of how networks are classified according to the distance they cover.

Location	Distance	Example
Circuit-board System	0.1m 1m	Data flow machine multiprocessors
Desk Building Campus	10m 100m 1km	LAN LAN
City Country	10km 100km	MAN WAN (long haul)
Continent Planet	1000km 10,000km	Long Haul Long Haul

Table 1.1: Networks classified according to the distance they cover 

You will be having more idea about LANs and WANs in the upcoming posts.