What is a Network?
A network, in computing, is a group of two or more devices
that can communicate. In practice, a network is comprised of a number of
different computer systems connected by physical and/or wireless connections
There are several different types of computer networks.
Computer networks can be characterized by their size as well as their purpose.
The size of a network can be expressed by the geographic
area they occupy and the number of computers that are part of the network.
Networks can cover anything from a handful of devices within a single room to
millions of devices spread across the entire globe.
Some of the different networks based on size are:
Personal area network, or PAN
Local area network, or LAN
Metropolitan area network, or MAN
Wide area network, or WAN
TYPES OF
COMPUTER NETWORKS
PERSONAL AREA NETWORK
A personal area network, or PAN, is a computer network
organized around an individual person within a single building. This could be
inside a small office or residence. A typical PAN would include one or more
computers, telephones, peripheral devices, video game consoles and other
personal entertainment devices.
If multiple individuals use the same network within a
residence, the network is sometimes referred to as a home area network, or HAN.
In a very typical setup, a residence will have a single wired Internet
connection connected to a modem. This modem then provides both wired and
wireless connections for multiple devices. The network is typically managed
from a single computer but can be accessed from any device.
This type of network provides great flexibility. For
example, it allows you to:
- Send a document to the printer in the office upstairs while you are sitting on the couch with your laptop.
- Upload a photo from your cell phone to your desktop computer.
- Watch movies from an online streaming service to your TV.
If this sounds familiar to you, you likely have a PAN in
your house without having called it by its name.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
The smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger
LANs can accommodate thousands of computers. A LAN typically relies mostly on
wired connections for increased speed and security, but wireless connections
can also be part of a LAN. High speed and relatively low cost are the defining
characteristics of LANs.
LANs are typically used for single sites where people need
to share resources among themselves but not with the rest of the outside world.
Think of an office building where everybody should be able to access files on a
central server or be able to print a document to one or more central printers.
Those tasks should be easy for everybody working in the same office, but you
would not want somebody just walking outside to be able to send a document to
the printer from their cell phone! If a local area network, or LAN, is entirely
wireless, it is referred to as a wireless local area network, or WLAN.
METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK
A metropolitan area network, or MAN, consists of a computer
network across an entire city, college campus or small region. A MAN is larger
than a LAN, which is typically limited to a single building or site. Depending
on the configuration, this type of network can cover an area from several miles
to tens of miles. A MAN is often used to connect several LANs together to form
a bigger network. When this type of network is specifically designed for a
college campus, it is sometimes referred to as a campus area network, or CAN.
WIDE AREA NETWORK
A wide area network, or WAN, occupies a very large area,
such as an entire country or the entire world. A WAN can contain multiple
smaller networks, such as LANs or MANs. The Internet is the best-known example
of a public WAN.
As the world is increasingly interconnected, everyone shares the responsibility of securing cyberspaceSource: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5537/network
~Newton Lee
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