Classification of Computer Networks

What are the Advantages of Using a Network?

Advantages of using a network include: • facilitating communications• sharing hardware• sharing data and information• sharing software• transferring funds.

Classification of network

Classification of network

How Are LAN, MAN, and WAN Different?

The main differentiation among these classifications is their area of coverage.

LAN, MAN and WAN compared

Classification of network

Classification of network

LOCAL AREA NETWORK

Example of a LAN

Local Area Network (LAN): Definition

A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area.

Example such as a home, school computer laboratory, office building or closely positioned group of buildings.

Classification of network

Local Area Network (LAN) The simplest form of LAN is to connect two computers together.

COMPUTER2

COMPUTER1

Classification of network

Switch /hub

Local Area Network (LAN) A network which consists of less than 500 interconnected devices

across several buildings, is still recognized as a LAN.

Classification of network

Local Area Network (LAN)Classification of network

Personal Area Network (PAN) A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for

communication among computer and different information technological devices close to one person.

Headphone

PDA

PrinterMouse

Laptop

Smartphone

Classification of network

Personal Area Network (PAN) Examples of devices that are used in a PAN are:

Personal computers Printers Fax machines Telephones PDAs Scanners Video game consoles.

Classification of network

A wired PAN is usually constructed with USB and Fire wire connections.

Classification of network

Personal Area Network (PAN) Technologies such as Bluetooth and infrared communication

typically form a wireless PAN.

Classification of network

House Area Network (HAN) A home area network (HAN) is a residential LAN which is used for

communication between digital devices typically deployed in the home, usually a small number of personal computers and accessories, such as printers and mobile computing devices.

Classification of network

Classification of networkHouse Area Network (HAN)

House Area Network (HAN) An important function is the sharing of Internet access, often a

broadband service through a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) provider.

Classification of network

Local Area Network (LAN) :Advantages • Easy to share devices

(printers, scanners, external drives)

• Easy to share data (homework, pictures)

• Cost of LAN Setup is low.

Classification of network

Local Area Network (LAN) :Disadvantages • Power - a good LAN is required to

be on all the times. • Security - each computer and

device become another point of entry for undesirables.

• if all computers running at once, can reduce speed for each.

• Area covered is limited

Classification of network

METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK

Example of a MAN

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Definition

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a high-speed network that connects local area networks in a metropolitan area

Example such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region.

Classification of network

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)Classification of network

Campus Area Network (CAN) A campus network is a computer network made up of an

interconnection of local area networks (LAN's) within a limited geographical area.

Classification of network

Campus Area Network (CAN) In the case of a university campus-based campus network, the

network is likely to link a variety of campus buildings including; academic departments, the university library and student residence halls.

Classification of network

Academic Departments

University Library Student

Residence Halls.

Classification of networkCampus Area Network (CAN)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):Advantages• Efficiency and shared access.• All the computer-owning residents of the area have equal ability to go on line.

Classification of network

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):Disadvantages• It can be costly (hardware, software, support, etc.)• Security problems • As the network consists of many computers over the span of a city, the connection can lag or become quite slow.

Classification of network

WIDE AREA NETWORK

Wide Area Network (WAN):Definition

A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area (such as a city, country, or the world) using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves.

Classification of network

Example of a WAN

Wide Area Network (WAN)

The Internet is the world’s largest WAN.

Classification of network

Wide Area Network (WAN)Classification of network

Enterprise Private Network (EPN) An enterprise private network is a network build by an enterprise

to interconnect various company sites, e.g., production sites, head offices, remote offices, shops, in order to share computer resources.

Production site Head offices Frequency

Band

Classification of network

Production site Head offices

Frequency Band

Classification of network

Enterprise Private Network (EPN)

Virtual Private Network (VPN) A virtual private network (VPN) is a computer network in which

some of the links between nodes are carried by open connections or virtual circuits in some larger network (e.g., the Internet) instead of by physical wires.

Classification of network

VPNserver

Classification of networkVirtual Private Network (VPN)

Wide Area Network (WAN):Advantages

• Increased efficiency• Ease of communication• Lowered costs.

Classification of network

Wide Area Network (WAN):Disadvantages• Security problems • Training costs• Maintenance problems. Large

enterprises will dedicate personnel to maintaining their WAN.

Classification of network

Cost Network Size Speed

Number of

computer

Low Small Fastest Smallest

High Larger Slower Large

Higher Largest Slowest Largest

Comparison: LAN, MAN and WANClassification of network

LAN

MAN

WAN

SummaryClassification of network

Lesson Checkup

What is a network? What are three advantages of using a network? Give two types of LAN configuration. Give two types of WAN configuration. List down two of WAN disadvantages. Give two types of network communication standard in wired category. Give three types of network communication standard in wireless category.