Types of Computer Networks

Overview

Computer Network is the interconnection of multiple devices. Mainly there are three types of computer networks: LAN(Local Area Network), WAN(Wide Area Network) and MAN(Metropolitan Area Network).
LAN is used to connect devices in a small area like a building, office, etc.
MAN covers the devices connected within a town or a city.
WAN covers a large geographical area such as a continent or a country.
System Area Network, Home Area Network, and Campus Area Network are some other network types.

Scope

In this article, we will study the brief introduction to computer networks.
And we will see the types of computer networks.
This article also provides us with knowledge about the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of different types of computer networks.
And we will look at the differences between LAN, WAN and MAN.

Introduction to Computer Network

Computer Network is the interconnection between multiple devices. Computer Network allows to send and receive data and information between different connected devices. Different devices in a network are connected through links.

Refer to the below image to visualize the computer network

computer-network-diagram

Based on the size of the network, ownership and distance covered by the network, there are three types of computer networks

Local Area Network (LAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wide area network (WAN)

Refer to the below image to show the types of computer networks

types-of-computer-networks

LAN (Local Area Network)

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of connected devices which are in a limited area such as a school, office, building, or home. It is a network mostly used for sharing hardware resources such as printers, files, scanners, etc. If we talk about the simplest LAN network then we will consider a computer and a printer connected in a home as the simplest network. The data transmission speed of LAN is up to 10 Mbps.

Refer to the below image to show LAN

local-area-network

There are two types of LAN:
Wired LAN– In this type of LAN, wired cables such as twisted pair or coaxial cables are used for the connection and transmission of data.
Wireless LAN– In this type of LAN, devices are connected by wireless cables such as radio, and light waves.

Refer to the below image to show the types of LAN

wired-lan-vs-wireless-lan

Characteristics

LAN is a type of network owned by the private owner
LAN can be used to connect printers, personal computers, etc.
LAN Networks can be designed very easily.
Troubleshooting of LAN networks is easy.
Data transfer rate of LAN network is about 10 Gbits/s.
It is a network which is limited to the local area.
LAN operates relatively faster than the WAN network.

Advantages

LAN allows sharing of computer hardware like printers, scanners, etc. which may reduce the cost of buying expensive computer hardware.
LAN permits to share of a single internet facility among the devices connected to LAN.
LAN provides high security and fault tolerance capability.
It allows transmitting data between people and devices at a high transmission rate.

Disadvantages

LAN reduces the cost by allowing sharing of computer hardware, but the initial installation cost of LAN is very high.
Technical and skilled manpower is required for the configuration and installation of the LAN network.
Due to the sharing of computer resources among the devices, sometimes the operation speed of the network may slow down.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is a network connecting devices across an entire town, entire city or any other small region. This is a network larger than LAN but smaller than the WAN. WAN stands for Wide Area Network which is used connect devices geographically such as across the country or continent. MAN network works in between LAN and WAN. MAN can be used to connect multiple LAN networks. When one LAN use modems, direct digit devices and any other media types to connect with other LAN, then it covers a large area which is considered a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).

Refer to the below image to show the MAN

metropolitan-area-network

Characteristics

MAN is a larger network in comparison to LAN.
MAN network generally covers the towns and cities in a maximum of 50 km range
MAN is the most used medium in cables and optical fibres.

Advantages

MAN network connects all the branches of the company that are existing in the same city.
Dual Bus in MAN networks permits for bidirectional data transfer concurrently.
MAN network is considered as economical as it allows sharing of resources among all the branches of the company which are in the city.

Disadvantages

It becomes difficult to protect MAN networks from hackers because MAN connects the devices within a city or town.
You are required a large number of cables for establishing a connection using the MAN network.
Installation cost of MAN network is very much high in comparison of LAN.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

WAN stands for Wide Area Network is a type of computer network which can cover a large geographical area such as a continent, or a country. The size of the WAN network is larger than the LAN and MAN network. When the size of the network grows more than the MAN then it is considered a WAN. Usually, telecommunication networks are considered a Wide Area Network. WAN Network could be an interconnection between two or more LANs which are connected through telephone lines or radio waves.

Refer to the below image to show the WAN

wide-area-network

Characteristics

WAN is used to cover a large geographical area, like a country.
WAN can be used to connect within the world and around the world.
Any office and organization can use WAN to form its global integrated network.

Advantages

WAN allows covering a large geographical area.
Offices situated at longer distances from each other can easily communicate through WAN.
Allows connecting devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc.

Disadvantages

There are more chances of error and issues because of the use of more technologies and wide coverage.
Provides less security in comparison to other types of networks.
Initial and configuration cost of WAN is very high.
Skilled technicians and network administrators are required for the setup of this network.

Other Types of Computer Networks

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

1) WLAN
WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN allows to connect single or multiple devices in a limited area like schools, home, offices, etc. using the wireless connection. It allows for the transmission of data among the connected devices within the local coverage area. WLAN can be private or public according to the requirement of the user.

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 a network which is used for the local network. It provides a high-speed connection facility in processor-to-processor and server-to-server applications.

4) Passive Optical Local Area Network
Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN) is considered an alternative to the traditional switch-based ethernet. And this network helps the user to integrate into structured cabling. It is a network designed for overcoming the concerns related to supporting Ethernet protocols and network applications.

5) Home Area Network (HAN):
Home Area Network (HAN) is used to establish the connection between two or more computers within a home. It allows the building of a Local Area Network within the home. HAN allows sharing of printers, files, programs, etc. within the home. This network is useful when there is more than one computer in a home.

6) Enterprise Private Network:
Enterprise private network (EPN) are the networks that are owned and built by businesses that wish to share different computer resources by securely connecting different locations.

7) Campus Area Network (CAN):
A Campus Area Network is a network which is established by the interconnecting LAN of a specific geographical area. For example, there is a university campus which is linked with other campus buildings. So in this type of situation CAN is used to connect all academic departments.

8) Virtual Private Network:
A Virtual Private Network abbreviated as VPN is a private network that allows connecting remote sites and users by using the public network.VPN provides us with an option to create a protected network connection using public networks.

Difference between LAN vs MAN vs WAN

Now let us understand the difference between different types of computer networks

LANMANWANLAN stands for Local Area NetworkMAN stand for Metropolitan Area NetworkWAN stands for Wide Area Network.Speed of LAN network is very highSpeed of MAN network is averageSpeed of WAN network is low in comparison of LANPrivate organizations own the LAN networkOwnership of the MAN network can be public or private.ownership of the WAN network can be public or private.LAN has a low maintenance cost.MAN has maintenance cost more than LANMaintenance cost of WAN is more than both LAN and WAN.Congestion is less in LAN.Congestion is more than LAN.Congestion is more than both LAN and MAN.LAN covers small areas such as the same office or building.MAN covers a large area such as a city or town.WAN can cover a large geographical area such as country, continent, etc.

Conclusion

Computer network connect multiple devices via links and allows the transmission of data and information between different connected devices.
Based on the size, and distance covered by the network there are three types of computer networks i.e. LAN, WAN and MAN.
LAN

(Local Area Network) is generally used to connect devices of a limited area such as a building, home, office, etc.
MAN

(Metropolitan Area Network) is used to connect the devices among the city, a town or any other small area.
WAN

(Wide Area Network) is a type of network that covers a large geographical area.
WLAN

(Wireless Local Area Network), Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Home Area Network, POLAN- Passive Optical LAN, Enterprise private network, Campus Area Network, and Virtual Area Network are other types of computer networks.