COMPUTER NETWORKS

• A computer network is set of two or more computers connected together in

order to share resources.
• A computer network can be created using either wireless connection or
Wired connection.
• A Wireless network is one in which computers connect to each other using
radio waves. A Wireless Router is used to link the computers.
• A Wired network is one in which cables (Ethernet cables) are used to
connect the computers in a network. A Network switch is used to link the
computers.
• A computer network can also be created using optic fibre cables. This
network has high speed data transfer rates than wireless and wired
networks.
NETWORK HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
• The following is the list of hardware required to set up a computer network:
1. Ethernet cables
2. Network Switches
3. Network Interface Cards (NIC)
4. Routers
5. Wireless Network Adapters

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Ethernet Cables Network Switch Optic Fibre Cable
Network Interface Card (NIC)

Wireless USB Adapter

Wireless Network Card
Wireless Router 3
 PURPOSE OF A COMPUTER
NETWORK
The reasons for creating a computer network are:
1) To enable users share resources (information, softwares, data).
2) To allow users share printers, multimedia equipment, and even
experiences.
3) To have less storage equipment in an organisation.
4) To save time in reconciling changes made to data on different
computers.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN
b) WAN
c) PAN
d) MAN
e) SAN
f) Wi-Fi

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CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN
c) PAN
d) MAN
e) SAN
f) Wi-Fi

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CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN (Wide Area Network)
c) PAN
d) MAN
e) SAN
f) Wi-Fi

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CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN (Wide Area Network)
c) PAN (Personal Area Network)
d) MAN
e) SAN
f) Wi-Fi

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 8

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN (Wide Area Network)
c) PAN (Personal Area Network)
d) MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
e) SAN
f) Wi-Fi

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 9

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN (Wide Area Network)
c) PAN (Personal Area Network)
d) MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
e) SAN (Storage Area Network)
f) Wi-Fi

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 10

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
• Computer networks can be classified in many ways depending on the
geographical arrangement of the computers.
• Some of the classifications of networks are:
a) LAN (Local Area Network)
b) WAN (Wide Area Network)
c) PAN (Personal Area Network)
d) MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
e) SAN (Storage Area Network)
f) Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11x)

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1. Local Area Networks (LANs)
• A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network of computers in the same location.
• The computers are geographically closer together (that is, in the same building).
Advantages of LANs
• LAN is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
• LAN requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to each device
• Has lower costs compared to MAN’s or WAN’s
Disadvantage of LANs
• LAN is limited in size, typically covering a few hundred meters.

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2. Wide Area Network (WAN)
• A WAN is a network of computers in different geographical locations. E.g. Towns
or cities.
• A WAN covers a large geographic area such as a country, continent or even
whole of the world.
• A WAN is two or more LANs connected together. The LANs can be many miles
apart and can be connected using optic fibre cables.
• WANs use leased high-speed phone lines, optic fibres or wireless links such as
satellites.
• Multiple LANs can be connected together using devices such as bridges, routers,
or gateways, which enable them to share data.
• The world's most popular WAN is the Internet.

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3. PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (PAN)
• This is an interconnection of IT devices, such as phones and computers, within
the range of an individual person.
• Typically they are connected within a range of 10 meters.
• PAN is basically for one person.

4. METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK (MAN)

• A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a large computer network that covers a
metropolitan area or campus.
• Its geographic scope falls between a WAN and LAN.
• MANs provide Internet connectivity for LANs in a metropolitan region, and
connect them to wider area networks like the Internet.
• An example of a MAN is a Cable Television Network.
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5. STORAGE AREA NETWORK (SAN)
• A Storage Area Network, or SAN, is a high-speed network of storage devices
that also connects those storage devices with servers.
• A storage area network (SAN) is any high-performance network whose primary
purpose is to enable storage devices (servers) to communicate with computer
systems and with each other.
6. Wi-Fi
• Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio
waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections.
• Wi-Fi does not mean Wireless Fidelity, it is a trade name for the standard way
computers connect to wireless networks.
• Wi-Fi is simply a trademarked term meaning IEEE 802.11x.
• IEEE = Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
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TYPES OF LOCAL AREA NETWORKS
• There are two types of Local Area Networks, which are:
(a) Intranets
(b) Extranets
• An intranet is a LAN that connects computers within an organization.
• An extranet is a LAN that connects computers to other organizations and
individuals not part of the organisation.
• The main difference between an intranet and an extranet is that the intranet is
limited for use within an organization’s computers, whereas the extranet is not
limited to an organization’s computers, the extranet is an extension of the
company’s intranet to other organisations.

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EXERCISE
1. What type of network can be used to connect computers in the library of a
school?
2. Give one difference and one similarity between a Wi-Fi network and a
Bluetooth network.
3. Give the name of the device that is used to connect computers in a wireless
network.
4. What is the difference between an Intranet and Extranet.
5. Give the two types of cables that can be used to create a wired network.
6. Give two reasons why a computer network is useful to a company.
7. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of Local Area Networks.

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