Lesson 3

Categories of Network
NET1/DATACOM P R ES ENT ER : E N GR . E N R EY P . A L A M-A LA M
 Categories of Network
 Networks usually are classified as a:
◦Local Area Network (LAN).
◦Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).
◦Wide Area Network (WAN).
 The main differentiation among these
classifications is their area of coverage (distinguish
by the geographical area each network serves).
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects
computers and devices in a limited geographical area.
 Main characteristics of LAN:
o Areas of coverage: LANs located within the same
building (closely positioned group of buildings) such as a
home, school computer laboratory, office building.
o Distance: LANs span (cover) distance less than a mile.
o Ownership: LANs are owned and operated by individual
organizations.
Local Area Network (LAN)
 Types of LAN
 Personal Area Network (PAN) is a type of wireless
network that works within a very small area—your
immediate surroundings.
 Home Area Network (HAN) is a type of network for
homes allowing different computers to share
resources, including a common Internet connection.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Home Area Network (HAN)
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Advantages:
◦Hardware and software can be shared.
◦All the users work can be stored in a central
place.
◦Data can be shared because database files
stored in the server are available to users
around the network.
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Disadvantages:
◦Printing can be slow, long print queues
may develop.
◦A virus can spread more easily.
◦As data is shared there is a greater need
for security
 Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
 A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a high-speed network
that connects local area networks (LANs) in a metropolitan area.
 Main characteristics of MAN:
o Areas of coverage: MANs connect various locations such as
campuses, offices, and government, that are frequently used as links
between buildings.
o Distance: MANs span (cover) distance up to 100 miles (161 km).
o Ownership: MANs are owned by a group of users who jointly own
and operate the network.
Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
 Type of MAN
 Campus Area Network (CAN) is a type of a
computer network interconnecting a few local area
networks (LANs) within a university campus or
corporate campus.
 Campus area network may link a variety of campus
buildings including departments, the university
library and student halls of residence.
Campus Area Network (CAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large
geographical area.
 Main characteristics of WAN:
o Areas of coverage: WANs located within a countryside and
worldwide networks, (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. The Internet is the
world’s largest WAN.
o Distance: WANs span (cover) distance greater than 100 miles.
o Ownership: WANs have no ownership
Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Types of WAN
 Enterprise Private Network (EPN) is a type of network
built by an enterprise to interconnect various company
sites, e.g., production sites, head offices, remote offices,
shops, in order to share computer resources.
 Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a type of private network
built over public infrastructure. By using a number of
security mechanisms, including encryption, a VPN allows
users to securely access a network from different locations
using a public telecommunications network, most
frequently the Internet
Enterprise Private Network
(EPN)
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Advantages:
◦ These are similar to those of LAN's except the scale of sharing etc.
becomes far greater and can be world-wide.
 Disadvantages
◦ Again these are similar to those of LAN's except that issues such as
security become even more important as potential hackers could
break into a computer system from anywhere in the world rather
than having to physically be in a building.
◦ Encryption of secure data such as financial transactions is
necessary because it is even easier to capture data.