Types of Networks
PAN, LAN, WAN, MAN, VPN
Types of Computer Networks
What Are the Important Types of Computer Networks?
• There are various types of computer networks available. We
can categorize them according to their size as well as their
purpose.
• The size of a network should be expressed by the geographic
area and number of computers, which are a part of their
networks. It includes devices housed in a single room to
millions of devices spread across the world.
What is PAN (Personal Area
Network)?
• PAN is a computer network formed around a
person.
• It generally consists of a computer, mobile, or
personal digital assistant.
• PAN can be used for establishing
communication among these personal devices
for connecting to a digital network and the
internet.
PAN
Characteristics of PAN
• It is mostly personal devices network equipped within a limited area.
• Allows you to handle the interconnection of IT devices at the surrounding of a
single user.
• PAN includes mobile devices, tablet, and laptop.
• It can be wirelessly connected to the internet called WPAN.
• Appliances use for PAN: cordless mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth systems.
Advantages of PAN
• Here, are important pros/benefits of using PAN network:
• PAN networks are relatively secure and safe
• It offers only short-range solution up to ten meters
• Strictly restricted to a small area
Disadvantages of PAN
• Here are important cons/ drawback of using PAN network:
• It may establish a bad connection to other networks at the same radio bands.
• Distance limits.
What is LAN?
• A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computer and peripheral devices
which are connected in a limited area such as school, laboratory, home, and
office building.
• It is a widely useful network for sharing resources like files, printers, games,
and other application.
• The simplest type of LAN network is to connect computers and a printer in
someone's home or office.
• In general, LAN will be used as one type of transmission medium.
• It is a network which consists of less than 5000 interconnected devices across
several buildings.
LAN
Characteristics of LAN
• Here are important characteristics of a LAN network:
• It is a private network, so an outside regulatory body never controls it.
• LAN operates at a relatively higher speed compared to other WAN systems.
• There are various kinds of media access control methods like token ring and ethernet.
Advantages of LAN
• Here are pros/benefits of using LAN:
• Computer resources like hard-disks, DVD-ROM, and printers can share local area networks. This significantly reduces the cost
of hardware purchases.
• You can use the same software over the network instead of purchasing the licensed software for each client in the network.
• Data of all network users can be stored on a single hard disk of the server computer.
• You can easily transfer data and messages over networked computers.
• It will be easy to manage data at only one place, which makes data more secure.
• Local Area Network offers the facility to share a single internet connection among all the LAN users.
Disadvantages of LAN
• Here are the important cons/ drawbacks of LAN:
• LAN will indeed save cost because of shared computer resources, but the initial cost of installing Local Area Networks is
quite high.
• The LAN admin can check personal data files of every LAN user, so it does not offer good privacy.
• Unauthorized users can access critical data of an organization in case LAN admin is not able to secure centralized data
repository.
• Local Area Network requires a constant LAN administration as there are issues related to software setup and hardware
failures
What is WAN?
• WAN (Wide Area Network) is another important computer network
that which is spread across a large geographical area.
• WAN network system could be a connection of a LAN which
connects with other LAN's using telephone lines and radio waves.
• It is mostly limited to an enterprise or an organization.
WAN
Characteristics of WAN:
• The software files will be shared among all the users; therefore, all can access to the latest files.
• Any organization can form its global integrated network using WAN.
Advantages of WAN
• Here are the benefits/ pros of using WAN:
• WAN helps you to cover a larger geographical area. Therefore business offices situated at longer
distances can easily communicate.
• Contains devices like mobile phones, laptop, tablet, computers, gaming consoles, etc.
• WLAN connections work using radio transmitters and receivers built into client devices.
Disadvantage of WAN
• Here are drawbacks/cons of using WAN:
• The initial setup cost of investment is very high.
• It is difficult to maintain the WAN network. You need skilled technicians and network
administrators.
• There are more errors and issues because of the wide coverage and the use of different
technologies.
• It requires more time to resolve issues because of the involvement of multiple wired and wireless
technologies.
• Offers lower security compared to other types of networks.
What is MAN?
• A Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is consisting of a
computer network across an entire city, college campus, or
a small region.
• This type of network is large than a LAN, which is mostly
limited to a single building or site. Depending upon the
type of configuration, this type of network allows you to
cover an area from several miles to tens of miles.
MAN
Characteristics of MAN
• Here are important characteristics of the MAN network:
• It mostly covers towns and cities in a maximum 50 km range
• Mostly used medium is optical fibers, cables
• Data rates adequate for distributed computing applications.
Advantages of MAN
• Here are pros/benefits of using MAN system:
• It offers fast communication using high-speed carriers, like fiber optic cables.
• It provides excellent support for an extensive size network and greater access to WANs.
• The dual bus in MAN network provides support to transmit data in both directions
concurrently.
• A MAN network mostly includes some areas of a city or an entire city.
Disadvantages of MAN
• Here are drawbacks/ cons of using the MAN network:
• You need more cable to establish MAN connection from one place to another.
• In MAN network it is tough to make the system secure from hackers
Differences between LAN, MAN and
WAN
Sr. Key LAN MAN WAN
No.
Definition LAN stands for Local Area MAN stands for Metropolitan WAN stands for Wide Area
1
Network. Area Network. Network.
Ownership LAN is often owned by MAN ownership can be private WAN ownership can be private
2
private organizations. or public. or public.
Speed LAN speed is quiet high. MAN speed is average. WAN speed is lower than that
3
of LAN.
Delay Network Propagation Delay Network Propagation Delay is Network Propagation Delay is
4
is short in LAN. moderate in MAN. longer in WAN.
Congestion LAN has low congestion as MAN has higher congestion WAN has higher congestion
5
compared to WAN. than LAN. than both MAN and LAN.
Fault Tolerance Fault Tolerance of LAN is Fault Tolerance of MAN is lower Fault Tolerance of WAN is lower
6
higher than WAN. than LAN. than both LAN and MAN.
Maintenance Designing and maintaining Designing and maintaining WAN Designing and maintaining WAN
7 LAN is easy and less costly is complex and more costly than is complex and more costly than
than WAN. LAN. both LAN and MAN.
Wireless Networks
• Computer networks that are not connected by cables are
called wireless networks.
• They generally use radio waves for communication
between the network nodes. They allow devices to be
connected to the network while roaming around within the
network coverage.
Wireless Networks
Types of Wireless Networks
• Wireless LANs − Connects two or more network devices using wireless distribution techniques.
• Wireless MANs − Connects two or more wireless LANs spreading over a metropolitan area.
• Wireless WANs − Connects large areas comprising LANs, MANs and personal networks.
Advantages of Wireless Networks
• It provides clutter-free desks due to the absence of wires and cables.
• It increases the mobility of network devices connected to the system since the devices need not be
connected to each other.
• Accessing network devices from any location within the network coverage or Wi-Fi hotspot becomes
convenient since laying out cables is not needed.
• Installation and setup of wireless networks are easier.
• New devices can be easily connected to the existing setup since they needn’t be wired to the present
equipment. Also, the number of equipment that can be added or removed to the system can vary
considerably since they are not limited by the cable capacity. This makes wireless networks very scalable.
• Wireless networks require very limited or no wires. Thus, it reduces the equipment and setup costs.
Examples of wireless networks
• Mobile phone networks
• Wireless sensor networks
• Satellite communication networks
• Terrestrial microwave networks
Network Software
• Network software encompasses a broad range of
software used for design, implementation, and
operation and monitoring of computer networks.
• Traditional networks were hardware based with
software embedded. With the advent of Software
– Defined Networking (SDN), software is
separated from the hardware thus making it
more adaptable to the ever-changing nature of
the computer network.
Network Software
Functions of Network Software
• Helps to set up and install computer networks
• Enables users to have access to network resources in a
seamless manner
• Allows administrations to add or remove users from the
network
• Helps to define locations of data storage and allows users
to access that data
• Helps administrators and security system to protect the
network from data breaches, unauthorized access and
attacks on a network
• Enables network virtualizations
SDN Framework
The Software Defined Networking framework has three layers as depicted in the
following diagram
• APPLICATION LAYER − SDN applications reside in the Application Layer. The
applications convey their needs for resources and services to the control layer
through APIs.
• CONTROL LAYER − The Network Control Software, bundled into the Network
Operating System, lies in this layer. It provides an abstract view of the underlying
network infrastructure. It receives the requirements of the SDN applications and
relays them to the network components.
• INFRASTRUCTURE LAYER − Also called the Data Plane Layer, this layer contains the
actual network components. The network devices reside in this layer that shows
their network capabilities through the Control to data-Plane Interface.
Design Issues for the Layers of
Computer Networks
A number of design issues exist for the layer to layer approach of computer networks.
Some of the main design issues are as follows −
Reliability
• Network channels and components may be unreliable, resulting in loss of bits
while data transfer. So, an important design issue is to make sure that the
information transferred is not distorted.
Scalability
• Networks are continuously evolving. The sizes are continually increasing leading to
congestion. Also, when new technologies are applied to the added components, it
may lead to incompatibility issues. Hence, the design should be done so that the
networks are scalable and can accommodate such additions and alterations.
Addressing
• At a particular time, innumerable messages are being transferred between large
numbers of computers. So, a naming or addressing system should exist so that
each layer can identify the sender and receivers of each message.
Design Issues for the Layers of
Computer Networks
Error Control
• Unreliable channels introduce a number of errors in the data streams that are communicated. So, the layers need
to agree upon common error detection and error correction methods so as to protect data packets while they are
transferred.
Flow Control
• If the rate at which data is produced by the sender is higher than the rate at which data is received by the receiver,
there are chances of overflowing the receiver. So, a proper flow control mechanism needs to be implemented.
Resource Allocation
• Computer networks provide services in the form of network resources to the end users. The main design issue is
to allocate and deallocate resources to processes. The allocation/deallocation should occur so that minimal
interference among the hosts occurs and there is optimal usage of the resources.
Statistical Multiplexing
• It is not feasible to allocate a dedicated path for each message while it is being transferred from the source to the
destination. So, the data channel needs to be multiplexed, so as to allocate a fraction of the bandwidth or time to
each host.
Routing
• There may be multiple paths from the source to the destination. Routing involves choosing an optimal path among
all possible paths, in terms of cost and time. There are several routing algorithms that are used in network
systems.
Security
• A major factor of data communication is to defend it against threats like eavesdropping and surreptitious
alteration of messages. So, there should be adequate mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to data through
authentication and cryptography.
