What is a Network?

A network consists of two or more computers that are

linked in order to share resources, exchange files, or
allow electronic communications.

The computers on a network may be linked through

cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared
light beams.
5 Main Types of Computer
Network
 Local Area Network
( LAN )
-A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A
networked office building, school, or home usually contains a single
LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs
(perhaps one per room)

- Transfer the data at an extremely faster rate.

- Local Area Network provides higher security.

- In addition to operating in a limited space, LANs are also typically
owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization.
They also tend to use certain connectivity technologies, primarily
Ethernet and Token rings.

- Ex.
• Networking in Home , Office
• Networking between two Computers
• Wi-Fi (When we consider wireless LAN)
 Wide Area Network
(WAN)
- No Limit. A wide area network (WAN) is a network that exists over a
large-scale geographical area.

- A WAN connects different smaller networks, including local area

networks (LANs) and metro area networks (MANs). This ensures that
computers and users in one location can communicate with
computers and users in other locations. WAN implementation can be
done either with the help of the public transmission system or a
private network.
 WAN-Wide Area Network
(WAN)
Ex.

 The Internet is a WAN.

 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN.

 LANs are often connected to WANs, for example a school network

could be connected to the Internet.

 WANs can be connected together using the Internet, leased lines or

satellite links.
 Wireless Local Area Network
(WLAN)
- A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a wireless computer
network that links two or more devices using wireless
communication within a limited area such as a home, school,
computer laboratory, or office building.

- This gives users the ability to move around within a local coverage
area and yet still be connected to the network.
- A large number of devises are supported

- Can contain many different devices such as mobile phones, laptop,

tablet , computers , internet audio systems, gaming consoles and any
other internet-enable home appliances or device
 Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
- A metropolitan area network 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.
 Campus Area Network
(CAN)
- A network spanning multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as
on a university or local business campus.

- The network administrators can monitor, allow, and limit the access
to the network . Firewalls are typically placed between the CAN and
the internet to protect the network from unauthorized access.

- Since the communication between the CAN takes place over a local
network ,data transfer speeds between systems within the network
are often higher than typically internet speed.