Network Categories

Depending upon our requirements, we deploy the networks of devices. For example we deploy the network within one or more buildings, cities and countries. Due to area captured by the networks we divide them into three major categories

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

The network within a building is usually named as local area network (LAN). This network is laid to connect multiple devices to share resources with each other. LAN can be as small as of two devices and as big as of few buildings. (See Fig-1)

Fig-1: Local Area Network 

Advantages of LAN

• Resources like printer, scanner, applications can be shared. This reduces the cost of hardware and software licenses too
• Data can be transferred with high speed
• One computer can be used as server where data from all computers can be saved
• Easy to manage data
• Internet connection can also be shared with multiple devices

Disadvantages of LAN

• Initial cost is high
• The administrator can access the data of other computers
• Managing a network is a full time job. So an administrator is required

Some other names of LAN

• Campus Area Network (CAN) : When the LAN is deployed within a collection of buildings it is usually known as campus area network. For example a network between different departments in a university area.
• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): If the devices within a LAN are connected with a wireless system. For example a  router connects various devices of your home using WiFi technology. This a WLAN system.
• Cluster Area Network (CAN): This network is connected between specific devices placed at specific location with a high speed connection in order to work as a single system. The mobile phone service providers usually have many clusters in a big city. (See Fig-2)

Fig-2: A cluster of mobile base station connected with optical fiber

2. Wide Area Network (WAN)

Wide area network is much larger than LAN. This network could be between two cities or even two countries. Internet comes under the umbrella of wide area network. Most popular companies like Facebook and Google use WAN to connect their users throughout the world.

Advantages of WAN

• Consists of a large geographic area, multinational businesses and service provider companies can be connected
• Resources can be shared, for example today you can play online games and enjoy live streaming service of YouTube

Disadvantages of WAN

• Security could be an issue. WAN needs a good security system to avoid viruses and hackers
• The cost of the network goes on increasing with size of network
• You need many administrators and technicians to maintain a huge network

3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

This comes between LAN and WAN. This is usually deployed within a city or part of the city. In Lahore there are internet service providers like Wateen and Wi-tribe which have deployed MAN. These companies cover major parts of the city but not the whole city. Similarly they have also deployed their networks in other cities of Pakistan

Advantages of MAN

• Resources can be shared very fast for example using optical fiber cable
• Usually deployed as a backbone to connect large networks

Disadvantages of MAN

• Costly than LAN
• Need security to avoid hackers
• need administrators ans technicians to manage the network

 

To know about in how many ways devices can be connected read network topologies