TYPES OF NETWORKS
Networks are often classified as local area network (LAN), wide area
network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), personal area
network (PAN), virtual private network (VPN), campus area network
(CAN), storage area network (SAN), and others, depending on their
scale, scope and purpose.
Functional relationship (network architecture)
Computer networks may be classified according to the functional
relationships which exist among the elements of the network, e.g., active
networking, client–server and peer-to-peer (workgroup) architecture.
Network topology
Computer networks may be classified according to the network topology
upon which the network is based, such as bus network, star network, ring
network, mesh network, star-bus network, tree or hierarchical topology
network.
Network topology is the coordination by which devices in the network are
arranged in their logical relations to one another, independent of physical
arrangement. In this regard the visual and operational characteristics of a
network are distinct. Networks may be classified based on the method of
data used to convey the data, these include digital and analog networks.
Types of networks
Common types of computer networks may be identified by their scale.
Local area network
A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices
in a limited geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory,
office building, or closely positioned group of buildings.
LAN connects networking devices with in short spam of area, i.e. small
offices, home, internet cafes etc. LAN uses TCP/IP network protocol for
communication between computers.
It is often but not always implemented as a single IP subnet. Since LAN is
operated in short area so It can be control and administrate by single person
or [Link] defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to WANs
(Wide Area Networks), include their higher data transfer rates, smaller
geographic range, and no need for leased telecommunication lines.
Wide area network
A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a large
geographic area such as a city, country, or spans even intercontinental
distances, using a communications channel that combines many types of
media such as telephone lines, cables, and air waves.
A WAN often uses transmission facilities provided by common carriers, such
as telephone companies. WAN technologies generally function at the lower
three layers of the OSI reference model: the physical layer, the data link
layer, and the network layer.
Metropolitan area network
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large computer network that usually spans
a city or a large campus.
A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs) using a high-
capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link
services to wide area networks and the Internet.
A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than a LAN, ranging from several
blocks of buildings to entire cities. MANs can also depend on communications
channels of moderate-to-high data rates. A MAN might be owned and operated by a
single organization, but it usually will be used by many individuals and
organizations. MANs might also be owned and operated as public utilities. They will
often provide means for internetworking of local networks.
Global area network
A global area network (GAN) is a network used for supporting mobile
communications across an arbitrary number of wireless LANs, satellite
coverage areas, etc.
The key challenge in mobile communications is handing off the user
communications from one local coverage area to the next. In IEEE Project
802, this involves a succession of terrestrial WIRELESS local area networks
(WLAN).[5]
Enterprise Private Network
An Enterprise Private Network is a network build by an enterprise to
interconnect the various company sites (production sites, head offices,
remote offices, shops etc.) in order to share computer resources over the
network.
Sample EPN made of Frame relay WAN connections and dialup remote
access.
Virtual private network
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.
Internetwork
An Internetwork is the connection of two or more private computer networks
via a common switching (OSI Layer 2) or routing technology (OSI Layer 3)
and owned by separate entities (public or private). The result is called an
internetwork.
The Internet is an aggregation of many internetworks, hence its name was
shortened to Internet.
Any interconnection between public, private, commercial, industrial, or
governmental networks may also be defined as an internetwork or (more
often) an extranet.
