The network allows computers to connect and communicate with other computers through any medium. There are three major types of networks designed to control and operate over the area they cover, including LAN, MAN, and WAN. There are several similarities and dissimilarities between these networks. One of the most common types of difference is the geographical area they cover. For instance, LAN covers the small areas, MAN covers an area larger than LAN, and WAN covers the largest of all. In addition to this, there are other types of computer networks, including
- PAN (Personal Area Network)
- EPN (Enterprise Private Network)
- VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- SAN (Storage Area Network)
Local Area Network (LAN)
LAN stands for Local Area Network. It connects network devices in a way that personal computer and workstations can share data, programs, and tools. The majority of computers and devices can be connected together by a switch, or stack of switches, with the help of a private addressing scheme as defined by the TCP/IP protocol. Private addresses are different in relation to other devices on the local network. Routers can be found at the boundary of a LAN, connecting them to the larger WAN.
Data can be transmitted at a very fast rate as the numbers of computers linked are limited. The connections must be high speed and affordable hardware, including network adapters, hubs, and Ethernet cables. LANs usually cover a smaller geographical area and are privately owned. They can be used in office buildings, homes, schools, hospitals, and so on. LAN can be easily installed and maintained.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
MAN stands for Metro Area Network. It covers a larger area as compared to a LAN and smaller area as compared to WAN. It can connect two or more computers that are apart, but located in the same or different cities. It generally covers a large geographical area that may serve as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). Metropolitan or Metro Area Network is designed for customers who need high-speed connectivity. The speed of MAN ranges in terms of Mbps. It is quite tough to design and maintain a Metro Area Network.
The fault tolerance is less. Also, there is more congestion in this network. It is quite expensive and may or may not be owned by a single organization. The rate of data transfer and the propagation delay of MAN are moderate. Some of the examples of MAN are the part of a telephone company network that provides a high-speed DSL line to the customer or the cable TV network in a city.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
WAN stands for Wide Area Network. It is a computer network that covers a large geographical area. It can be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A Wide Area Network can be a connection of LAN connecting to other LAN’s through LAN’s via telephone lines as well as radio waves and may be limited to an enterprise or accessible to the public. It is very high speed and relatively expensive technology. Some of the examples of WAV are the asynchronous transfer mode network, and Point-to-Point WAN is dial-up that connects a home computer to the Internet.
In a nutshell, there are several advantages of LAN, MAN, and WAN. LAN provides excellent reliability, high data transmission rate, and can be easily managed. But, it cannot cover cities and for that MAN is required. Besides, when it comes to connecting a country or a group of countries, WAN is required.
