Types of Computer Network
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Computer Network”? Basically, a computer network means a set of devices or nodes connected through links to share information and resources. In other words, it can be identified as a collection of computers, servers, and network devices connected to share data. Computer networks are classified based on different criteria. According to geographical distribution, networks are classified into three categories.
In this article, I am going to discuss the three main types of networks designed to operate in the area they cover. Those are,
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
Local Area Network is a set of computers and devices connected in a limited area. It ranges from a home network with one user to a business network with many users and devices. The advantages of a LAN are all devices can use a single Internet connection and it is a widely useful network for sharing resources like files, printers, network storage and other applications. Because of that LAN reduces hardware costs and makes resource pooling efficient. In addition, it is a cost-effective choice because LAN can be built with inexpensive hardware such as network adapters, hubs and Ethernet cables. Due to its small size, LAN has a considerably faster rate in data transferring. As well as LAN is considered secure because there is no outside connection with the LAN. But on other hand, Local Area Networks have some disadvantages also. One of the main disadvantages is that installation cost is quite high. Also, LAN does not provide good privacy because the administrator can check the personal data files of each LAN user.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) means a network that interconnects computers and other resources in a region. It is larger than a Local Area Network (LAN) and it is smaller than a Wide Area Network (WAN). A Metropolitan Area Network is a class of networks that cover transmission ranges between 5 and 10 km in diameter and it can include several buildings, such as a college, a campus network, or an area as a large city. Most often MANs function as a high-speed network. Also, it allows sharing of regional resources and provides a shared connection to other networks. When it comes to the advantages of MANs, it is highly cost-effective. Because MANs utilizes fewer resources than Wide Area Network (WAN). As well as, the data on the MAN has been managed very efficiently in a centralized way. Further sending emails is quite efficient and free in MAN. Moreover, there is a facility for the users to share their internet connections with other users and can experience high-speed internet connectivity. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages in MANs also. The main disadvantage in MAN is, arise difficulties to manage the network when it becomes larger. As a result, there are more chances for hackers to attack when it is compared with LANs because of the security problems and other configurations. Therefore it needs high trained staff and security tools to protect the security of the data.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Wide Area Network is a geographically distributed telecommunications network that spans a wide geographical area. In other words, WAN is a network of networks that bridge great distances and Internet is the largest WAN in the world. Also, it can be described as a collection of Local Area Networks that are managed by network service providers like satellite companies, phone companies, or internet service providers (ISPs). There are many types of WAN technologies like Packet switching, Overlay network, Router, Frame Relay and ATM to touch a variety of use cases in networking. WANs provide the facilities to communicate and share information around the world through a WAN provider. When it comes to the advantages of a wide area network, WANs cover a wide geographical area of 1000 km or more and it provides centralized data. For example, if your office is located at different locations, all the branches can be communicated through WAN without an effort and don’t need to buy services like email, backup servers, etc. And there are a lot of applications like Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Skype to exchange data and information. There are some disadvantages in WANs also. One disadvantage is the security issues that WAN frequently faces. As an example, hackers can access and modify data transmitted over the internet. Therefore it is required to activate firewalls and antivirus software on the device. As well as the installation costs are high in WANs and there are some troubleshooting problems.
Comparison of LAN, MAN, WAN
So I think you got some basic idea about types of Computer Network from this article.
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