Types of Computer Network
- Local
Area Network (LAN)
- Metropolitan
Area Network (MAN)
- Wide
Area Network (WAN)
LAN (Local Area Network)
- Stands
for Local Area Network
- The
computer is geographically close together that is in the same building,
room, or campus.
- LAN
consists of just two or more computers to exchange data.
- Local
area network is a privately owned network within a small area usually a
single building or campus of up to a few kilometers.
Features
- A LAN offers bandwidth of 10-100Mbps.
- LAN
transmission capacity is usually greater than that of Wide Area Network,
typically bit rate ranges from 1Mb/s to 20Mb/s.
- Distance
ranges from 10m – 1km
- High
data transmission rate as compared to WAN and MAN.
- Its
radius is not more than a few kilometers.
- It
reduces the hardware and software cost because users can share several
computer and peripheral devices such as HDD, modem, and LAN platform
software.
- It is controlled by a single organization.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
- MAN is the network that is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN.
- A
metropolitan network is a network of computers which are spread over a
metropolitan area such as within a city.
- It
connects two or more LAN together. A single organization owns the land and
resources required to operate MAN.
- The
distance is not more than 10km.
- ISP
(Internet Service Provider) providing network communication within a
city and the connection of different branches of a bank within the same
city are the examples of MAN.
- The best example of MAN is the Cable TV Network.
- It may
be owned by a single or multiple organizations.
- It
uses cable or wireless connection.
- It
uses private or public connection modes.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Stands
for Wide Area Network
- Typically
spans entire countries.
- A wide
area network is a network spread over a long distance, connecting two or
more computers over a wide geographical area such as states, districts, or
countries.
- Computer
networking spanning or covering regional, national, or global area.
- Transmission
medium is usually telephonic, microwave, and satellite communication.
- Owned
by multiple organizations.
- Lower
data transfer rate as compared to LAN and MAN.
- It has
data rate below 1Mbps.
- It has
public and private (private) area networks.
- Best
example of WAN:
- Channels
are relatively error-prone and less secure compared to LAN.
- Distance
is 100km-1000km.
- Internet
is the best example of WAN.