Network types

1. local-area network (LAN)

1.1 An overview of LAN
A local-area network (LAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most
often, a LAN is confined to a single room, building or group of buildings; however, one LAN
can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves.

A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN). The difference
between a LAN and WAN is that the wide-area network spans a relatively large geographical
area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs) and are often
connected through public networks.

1.2 Nodes on a LAN

Most LANs connect workstations and personal computers. Each node (individual computer) in a
LAN has its own CPU with which it executes programs, but it also is able to access data and
devices anywhere on the LAN. This means that many users can share expensive devices, such as
laser printers, as well as data. Users can also use the LAN to communicate with each other, by
sending email or engaging in chat sessions.

LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much faster than data can be transmitted
over a telephone line; but the distances are limited and there is also a limit on the number of
computers that can be attached to a single LAN.

1.3 Types of Local-Area Networks (LANs)

There are many different types of LANs, with Ethernets being the most common for PCs. Most
Apple Macintosh networks are based on Apple's AppleTalk network system, which is built into
Macintosh computers. The following characteristics differentiate one LAN from another:

Topology: The geometric arrangement of devices on the network. For example, devices can be
arranged in a ring or in a straight line.

Protocols: The rules and encoding specifications for sending data. The protocols also determine
whether the network uses a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.

Media: Devices can be connected by twisted-pair wire, coaxial cables, or fiber optic cables.
Some networks do without connecting media altogether, communicating instead via radio waves.

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 1.4 Deploying a Wireless LAN

Wireless networks are relatively easy to implement these days, especially when compared to the
prospect of having to route wires when deploying a new wired network or overhauling an
existing one. The first step in planning a wireless LAN deployment should be to decide on your
wireless networking technology standard. Keep in mind that the standard you need to
accommodate your network access points and routers as well as the entire collection of wireless
network interface cards (NICs) for your computers and other network resources.

1.5 LAN Network Administrator

The LAN network administrator is responsible for maintaining an organization's local area
network. In most cases, the LAN spans a single geographical site, such as a corporate office. A
LAN network administrator's job responsibilities include: installing LAN network components,
tracking and renewing licenses for software and equipment, monitoring LAN performance,
upgrading LAN network software and hardware, creating network redundancy and backups to
ensure continuity in the event of network failure, and installing software and hardware to ensure
local area network security.

1.6 What is a LAN Adapter?

A popular and technology phrase is the LAN adapter. This is the most common and generic
alternate name for a Network Interface Card (NIC). Today, similar products, such as a Wireless
USB LAN Adapter or a Wii LAN Adapter are also called a LAN adapter.

1.7 Advantages and Disadvantages of LAN Local Area Network

LAN stands for Local Area Network. It normally connects the computers and other devices
within one office, building or a group of nearby buildings.

1.7.1 Advantages of LAN or Local Area Network

1. Resource Sharing

Computer hardware resources like printers, modems, DVD-Rom drives and hard disks can be
shared with the help of local area networks. This will reduce cost of hardware purchases. For
example, a business organization using a Local Area Network for an office can use a single
network printer for the employees of this office.

2. Software Applications Sharing

It is cheaper to use same software over network instead of purchasing separate licensed software
for each client in a network. It will cost more to purchase separate licensed software for each
computer in a network.

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3. Easy and Cheap Communication

Data and messages can easily be transferred over networked computers. It saves a lot of time and
money.

4. Centralized Data

The data of all network users can be saved on hard disk of the server computer. This will help
users to use any workstation in a network to access their data. Because data is not stored on
workstations locally. But it is stored on a server computer. User will access their own data by
logging into their accounts from any client computer in the network.

5. Data Security

Since, data is stored on server computer centrally, it will be easy to manage data at only one
place and the data will be more secure too, because of more security for the server computer.

6. Internet Sharing

Local Area Network provides the facility to share a single internet connection among all the
LAN users. In Net Cafes, single internet connection sharing system keeps the internet expenses
cheaper. Because only one high speeds internet connection is purchased by a net cafe from any
ISP - Internet Service Provider Company. This single high speed internet connection is managed
on the server computer of the Net Cafe and available for all network clients with the help of
Internet Connection Sharing facilities of the operating system.

1.7.2 Disadvantages of LAN or Local Area Network

1. High Setup Cost

Although the LAN will save cost over time due to shared computer resources but the initial setup
costs of installing Local Area Networks is high. This is because any organization that will setup
a network will have to purchase necessary hardware equipment for networking. It may require a
sophisticated server computer - a Mini Computer, Network LAN cards, Network Routers, HUBS
/ Switches, Networking Cables (for wired networks only) and connectors etc. Additionally a
Network technician will be required for setting up a new network in an organization. If an
organization has a large network, it must hire a network administrator for smooth running of
network and solving any problems.

2. Privacy Violations

The LAN administrator has the rights to check personal data files of each and every LAN user.
Moreover he can check the internet history and computer use history of the LAN users.

3. Data Security Threat

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 4. Unauthorized users can access important data of an organization if centralized data
repository is not secured properly by the LAN administrator. LAN Administer is
responsible for the security of the whole data resource in an organization.
5. LAN Maintenance Job

Local Area Network requires a LAN Administrator. Because, there are problems of software
installations or hardware failures or cable disturbances in Local Area Network. A LAN
Administrator is needed at this full time job. A LAN Administrator may be with a M.C.S. or
B.S.C.S. degree holder person additionally with a diploma in network field.

5. Covers Limited Area

Local Area Network covers a small area like one office, one building or a group of nearby
buildings.

2. Wide area network (WAN)

2.1 overview of WAN
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network covering multiple distance areas, which may spread
across the entire world. WANs often connect multiple smaller networks, such as local area networks
(LANs) or metro area networks (MANs). The world's most popular WAN is the Internet. Some segments
of the Internet are also WANs in themselves. The key difference between WAN and LAN technologies
are scalability. C WAN must be able to grow as needed to cover multiple cities, even countries and
continents.

A set of switches and routers are interconnected to form a Wide Area Network. The switches can be
connected in different topologies such as full mesh and half mesh. A wide area network may be privately
owned or rented from a service provider, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of public (shared
user) networks.

Both packet switching and circuit switching technologies are used in the WAN. Packet switching allows
users to share common carrier resources so that the carrier can make more efficient use of its
infrastructure. In a packet switching setup, networks have connections into the carrier's network, and
many customers share the carrier's network. The carrier can then create virtual circuits between
customers' sites by which packets of data are delivered from one to the other through the network. Circuit
Switching allows data connections to be established when needed and then terminated when
communication is complete. This works like a normal telephone line works for voice communication.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a good example of circuit switching. When a router has
data for a remote site, the switched circuit is initiated with the circuit number of the remote network.

Business, education and government entities use wide area networks to relay data to staff, students,
clients, buyers, and suppliers from various locations across the world. In essence, this mode of
telecommunication allows a business to effectively carry out its daily function regardless of location. The
Internet may be considered a WAN.

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WAN stands for information technology term in English: Wide Area Network is a computer network
covering a large area as an example of the computer networks between regions, cities or even countries,
or can be defined as well as computer networks require routers and public communications channels.
WANs are used to connect a local network with other local networks, so that the user or computer in one
location can communicate with users and computers in other locations

A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically distributed private telecommunications network that
interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs). In an enterprise, a WAN may consist of connections
to a company's headquarters, branch offices, collocation facilities, cloud services and other facilities.
Typically, a router or other multifunction device is used to connect a LAN to a WAN. Enterprise WANs
allow users to share access to applications, services and other centrally located resources. This eliminates
the need to install the same application server, firewall or other resource in multiple locations. WAN is a
computer network spanning regions, countries, or even the world.[3] However, in terms of the application
of computer networking protocols and concepts, it may be best to view WANs as computer networking
technologies used to transmit data over long distances, and between different LANs, MANs and other
localized computer networking architectures. This distinction stems from the fact that common LAN
technologies operating at lower layers of the OSI model (such as the forms of Ethernet or Wi-Fi) are often
designed for physically proximal networks, and thus cannot transmit data over tens, hundreds or even
thousands of miles or kilometers.
Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is designed to make hybrid WAN architectures easier for enterprises
to deploy, operate and manage. Using a combination of virtualization, application-level policies and
network overlays, on-site SD-WAN devices, software platforms or customer premises equipment (CPE)
perform two functions:
They aggregate multiple public and private WAN links.
They automatically select the most optimal path for traffic, based on real-time conditions.
The latter function has historically required network managers to manually reconfigure their networks any
time they wanted to shape the direction of traffic over multiple routes.
2.2 Types of WAN connections
WAN connections can include wired and wireless technologies. Wired WAN services can include
multiprotocol label switching, T1s, Carrier Ethernet and commercial broadband internet links. Wireless
WAN technologies can include cellular data networks like 4G LTE, as well as public Wi-Fi or satellite
networks. WANs over wired network connections remain the preferred medium for most enterprises, but
wireless WAN technologies, based on the 4G LTE standard, are gaining traction. WAN infrastructuremay
be privately owned or leased as a service from a third-party service provider, such as a
telecommunications carrier, internet service provider, private IP network operator or cable company. The
service itself may operate over a dedicated, private connection -- often backed by a service-level
agreement -- or over a shared, public medium like the internet. Hybrid WANs employ a combination of
private and public network services.

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 2.3 List of WAN types
ATM Leased line

Cable modem SONET

Dial-up X.25

DSL SD-WAN

Frame relay ISDN

2.4 WAN advantages

The advantages of a Wide Area Network are its size and speed, but it is often expensive and complicated
to set up and maintain, requiring a trained network expert. WAN is designed to allow sharing of
information over a broad geographical region. WANs are used to connect LANs and other types of
networks together so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers
in other locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private. Others, built by
Internet service providers, provide connections from an organization's LAN to the Internet. WANs are
often built using leased lines. At each end of the leased line, a router connects the LAN on one side with a
second router within the LAN on the other. Leased lines can be very expensive. Instead of using leased
lines, WANs can also be built using less costly circuit switching or packet switching methods. Network
protocols including TCP/IP deliver transport and addressing functions. Protocols including Packet over
SONET/SDH, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Frame
Relay are often used by service providers to deliver the links that are used in WANs. X.25 was an
important early WAN protocol, and is often considered to be the "grandfather" of Frame Relay as many
of the underlying protocols and functions of X.25 are still in use today (with upgrades) by Frame Relay.
WAN can connect the computer to a wider area geographically, for example connecting Florida, United
States with the world. WAN network seeks to connect schools in Florida with other places in the world as
an example of Tokyo in just a few minutes, without the need to provide a large sum of money for a pay
phone.

2.4 Disadvantages of WAN

WAN network is more complicated and complex. It requires much equipment and data before local and
metropolitan networks related to global communication and internet communication.

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 3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
3.1 An overview of MAN

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer
resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network
(LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN). The term is applied to the
interconnection of networks in a city into a single larger network (which may then also offer efficient
connection to a wide area network). It is also used to mean the interconnection of several local area
networks by bridging them with backbone lines. The latter usage is also sometimes referred to as a
campus network. A large computer network which extends to a city or to a large university campus is
termed as metropolitan area network or MAN. The purpose of MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is to
provide the link to the internet in the long run. A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) usually incorporates
a number of LANs to form a network. This large network MANs (Metropolitan Area Network) backbone
comprises of an optical fiber set-up.

A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a large computer network on the large geographical area that
includes several buildings or even the entire city (metropolis). The geographical area of the MAN is
larger than LAN, but smaller than WAN. MAN includes many communicating devices and provides the
Internet connectivity for the LANs in the metropolitan area.

MAN is used to combine into a network group located in different buildings into a single network. The
diameter of such a network can range from 5 to 50 kilometers. As a rule, MAN does not belong to any
particular organization, in most cases, a group of users or a provider who takes charge for the service own
its connecting elements and other equipment. Level of service is agreed in advance and some warranties
are discussed. MAN often acts as a high-speed network to allow sharing regional resources (like a big
LAN). It is also often used to provide public available connection to other networks using a WAN
connection. There are many ways of classifying networks. The main criterion for classification is
considering the administration method. That is, depending on how the network is organized and how it is
controlled, it can be attributed to local or distributed, metropolitan or WAN. or her A network
administrator manages a network or it’s segment. Administration team activities are logged, and their
rights and responsibilities are strictly divided if the network is complex. Computers can be connected
using a variety of media access controllers: a twisted pair, optical conductors (optical cables) and via
radio (wireless technology). Wired optical connections are usually established via Ethernet, wireless -
through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS and other protocols. Private LAN may be linked to other local area
networks through gateways, as well as being part of a global computer network (eg, the Internet), or have
a connection to it. Computer and Networks Area for Concept Draw PRO provides professional looking
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3.2 Types of MAN (metropolitan Area Network) Technologies

Most widely used technologies to develop a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) network are FDDI (fiber
distribution data interface), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and SMDS (switched multi megabit
data service).ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is the most frequently used of all. ATM
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is a digital data transfer technology. It was developed in 1980 to improve

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the transportation of real time data over a single network. ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) works
just like cell relay system, where data is separated in the form of fixed equal sized packets and is
transferred overtime. The purpose of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) was to access clear audio and
video results during a video conferencing. The attributes of ATM has enabled it to become a base of wide
area data networking.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) combines the characteristics of circuit switching and packet
switching, which allows it to transfer even the real time data. FDDI is a standard for data transfer over
LAN, which can be extended to the range of approximately 200kms. FDDI can help support the data
transmission of many thousand users. This is the reason why it is referred to as the MAN (Metropolitan
Area Network) technology. FDDI uses optical fiber for its basic infrastructure that is why it is referred to
as fiber distribution data interface. When data is transferred through a connectionless service we use the
technology named as SMDS. Connectionless service implies that data is transferred by storing the
information in the header and it reaches its destination independently through any network. When the data
is transferred using the technology of SMDS, it also forms small data packets just like in ATM. However
SMDS allows the transmission of data over large geographical areas in the form of datagram’s (the data
packets of an unreliable data service provider). Nowadays MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) links are
established using infrared and microwave signals How Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) works

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) usually falls between LAN and WAN. It is generally applied to
connect geographically dispersed LANs. Therefore the goal of MAN is to develop a communication link
between two independent LAN nodes. A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is usually established using
optical fiber. The network is established using routers and switches. A switch is a port which is active in
handling the filtration of data usually coming in the form of frames. Any switch acts as a dual port, at one
end it is handling filtration of data and at the other end managing connections. Router is another device
for facilitating the network connection. Router helps the data packets to identify the path to be taken.
Hence in other words it keeps an eye on the data transfer. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is usually
operated over an area of up to 50kms.

3.3 Advantages of MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) falls in between the LAN and WAN. It therefore increases the
efficiency of handling data while at the same time saves the cost attached to establish a wide area
network. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) offers centralized management of data. It enables you to
connect many fast LANs together. Telephone companies worldwide have facilitated the transfer of data
with the help of an underground optical fiber network. These optical fibers increase the efficiency and
speed of data transfer. The optical fibers enable you to access a speed of almost 1000mbps. If you develop
a WAN of 1.45 mbps its cost is more than what it gives you. Whereas when you establish metropolitan
area network it offers you the speed of 1000mbps as a whole with the lowest cost involved the advantage
of MWAN for implementing metropolitan area network is its beauty due to less cost than fiber-based
Local area networks (LANs) due to several reasons. It is easy to use, extend, exchange or back up
prevailing fiber infrastructure within hours, preserving time and money on personnel. It also eradicates
leased line costs, fiber trenching cost in laying fiber. Another noteworthy benefit of implementing the
WMAN is to bridge the “digital divide” by affording linking communities that have not had the access to
wireless internet connections and LAN. Implementing of WMAN allows companies, government

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agencies, etc. to swiftly increase their internet service into new marketplaces for generating better
revenues. From other side, WMAN has security issue because it consists of large area and having problem
being hacked the information. A WMAN is merely a bigger WAN track, and thus provides the larger
chance for a hacker.

3.4 Disadvantages MAN

MAN will only apply if the personal computer or a terminal can compete. If a personal computer is used
as a terminal, move the file (file transfer software) allows users to retrieve files (downloaded) from the
hose or hose to deliver the data (upload). Download files means open and retrieve data from a personal
computer to another and deliver the data to the computer pertaining requested by the user. The key
disadvantage of MANs is the cost of the cutting-edge technology employed. Also, this equipment
generally has to be installed for the first time, as the copper traditionally used for the phone network is
generally considered to be too slow to be annexed for this purpose. The cost is what inhibits the
geographical reach of MANs, which is also another drawback.