4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

 Introduction to Networks /  1 - Networking Today /  1.4 - Common Types of Networks

Common Types of Networks

1.4.1

Networks of Many Sizes 

Now that you are familiar with the components that make up networks and their representations in
physical and logical topologies, you are ready to learn about the many dierent types of networks.

Networks come in all sizes. They range from simple networks consisting of two computers, to networks
connecting millions of devices.

Simple home networks let you share resources, such as printers, documents, pictures, and music,
among a few local end devices.

Small oce and home oce (SOHO) networks allow people to work from home, or a remote oce.
Many self-employed workers use these types of networks to advertise and sell products, order
supplies, and communicate with customers.

Businesses and large organizations use networks to provide consolidation, storage, and access to
information on network servers. Networks provide email, instant messaging, and collaboration among
employees. Many organizations use their network’s connection to the internet to provide products and
services to customers.

The internet is the largest network in existence. In fact, the term internet means a “network of
networks”. It is a collection of interconnected private and public networks.

In small businesses and homes, many computers function as both the servers and clients on the
network. This type of network is called a peer-to-peer network.

Click each button for more information.

Small Home Small Oce and Home Medium to Large World Wide
Networks Oce Networks Networks Networks

Small Home Networks

Small home networks connect a few computers to each other and to the internet.

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 1/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

  

1.4.2

LANs and WANs 

Network infrastructures vary greatly in terms of:

Size of the area covered

The two most common types of network infrastructures are Local Area Networks (LANs), and Wide
Area Networks (WANs). A LAN is a network infrastructure that provides access to users and end
devices in a small geographical area. A LAN is typically used in a department within an enterprise, a
home, or a small business network. A WAN is a network infrastructure that provides access to other
networks over a wide geographical area, which is typically owned and managed by a larger corporation
or a telecommunications service provider. The gure shows LANs connected to a WAN.

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 2/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks


LAN Home Office
WAN

Cloud Bran

Central

LANs

A LAN is a network infrastructure that spans a small geographical area. LANs have specic
characteristics:

LANs interconnect end devices in a limited area such as a home, school, oce building, or campus.
A LAN is usually administered by a single organization or individual. Administrative control is
enforced at the network level and governs the security and access control policies.
LANs provide high-speed bandwidth to internal end devices and intermediary devices, as shown in
the gure.


 Introduction to Networks v7.0

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 3/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

A network serving a home, small building, or a small campus is considered a LAN.

WANs

The gure shows a WAN which interconnects two LANs. A WAN is a network infrastructure that spans a
wide geographical area. WANs are typically managed by service providers (SPs) or Internet Service
Providers (ISPs).

WANs have specic characteristics:

WANs interconnect LANs over wide geographical areas such as between cities, states, provinces,
countries, or continents.
WANs are usually administered by multiple service providers.
WANs typically provide slower speed links between LANs.

Branch 1 LAN

1.4.3

The Internet 

The internet is a worldwide collection of interconnected networks (internetworks, or internet for short).
The gure shows one way to view the internet as a collection of interconnected LANs and WANs.

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 4/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

Home LAN

LANs use WAN services to interconnect.

School LAN
Some of the LAN examples are connected to each other through a WAN connection. WANs are then
connected to each other. The red WAN connection lines represent all the varieties of ways we connect
networks. WANs can connect through copper wires, ber-optic cables, and wireless transmissions (not
shown). Business LAN

The internet is not owned by any individual or group. Ensuring eective communication across this
diverse infrastructure requires the application of consistent and commonly recognized technologies and
standards as well as the cooperation of many network administration agencies. There are organizations
that were developed to help maintain the structure and standardization of internet protocols and
processes. These organizations include the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), plus many
others.

1.4.4

Intranets and Extranets 

There are two other terms which are similar to the term internet: intranet and extranet.

Intranet is a term often used to refer to a private connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an
organization. An intranet is designed to be accessible only by the organization's members, employees,
or others with authorization.

An organization may use an extranet to provide secure and safe access to individuals who work for a
dierent organization but require access to the organization’s data. Here are some examples of
extranets:

A company that is providing access to outside suppliers and contractors

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 5/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

A hospital that is providing a booking system to doctors so they can make appointments for their
patients
A local oce of education that is providing budget and personnel information to the schools in its
district

The gure illustrates the levels of access that dierent groups have to a company intranet, a company
extranet, and the internet.

The Internet
The World

Extranet
Suppliers, Customers, Collaborators

Intranet
Company Only

1.4.5

Check Your Understanding - Common Types of Networks 

Check your understanding of common types of networks by choosing the BEST answer
 to the following questions.

1. Which network infrastructure provides access to users and end devices in a small geographical
area, which is typically a network in a department in an enterprise, a home, or small business?

Extranet

Intranet

LAN

WAN
https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 6/7
4/11/2020 Introduction to Networks -Common Types of Networks

2. Which network infrastructure might an organization use to provide secure and safe access to
individuals who work for a dierent organization but require access to the organization’s data?

Extranet

Intranet

LAN

WAN

3. Which network infrastructure provides access to other networks over a large geographical area,
which is often owned and managed by a telecommunications service provider?

Extranet

Intranet

LAN

WAN

Check Show Me

Reset

 
1.3 1.5
Network Representations and Topologies Internet Connections

https://contenthub.netacad.com/itn/1.4.2 7/7