Types of Networks

Types of Networks
There are several different types of computer networks. Computer networks can be characterized
by their size as well as their purpose.
The size of a network can be expressed by the geographic area they occupy and the number of
computers that are part of the network. Networks can cover anything from a handful of devices
within a single room to millions of devices spread across the entire globe.
Some of the different networks based on size are:
 Personal area network, or PAN

 Local area network, or LAN
 Metropolitan area network, or MAN
 Wide area network, or WAN
 Storage area network, or SAN
 Enterprise private network, or EPN
 Virtual private network, or VPN
 Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)
 System-Area Network (also known as SAN)
In terms of purpose, many networks can be considered general purpose, which means they are
used for everything from sending files to a printer to accessing the Internet. Some types of
networks, however, serve a very particular purpose. Some of the different networks based on
their main purpose are:
Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.
Personal Area Network

A personal area network, or PAN, is a computer network organized around an individual
person within a single building. This could be inside a small office or residence. A typical PAN
would include one or more computers, telephones, peripheral devices, video game consoles and
other personal entertainment devices.
If multiple individuals use the same network within a residence, the network is sometimes
referred to as a home area network, or HAN. In a very typical setup, a residence will have a
single wired Internet connection connected to a modem. This modem then provides both wired
and wireless connections for multiple devices. The network is typically managed from a single
computer but can be accessed from any device.
This type of network provides great flexibility. For example, it allows you to:
 Send a document to the printer in the office upstairs while you are sitting on the couch
with your laptop.
 Upload a photo from your cell phone to your desktop computer.
 Watch movies from an online streaming service to your TV.
If this sounds familiar to you, you likely have a PAN in your house without having called it by
its name.
Local Area Network

A local area network, or LAN, consists of a computer network at a single site, typically an
individual office building. A LAN is very useful for sharing resources, such as data storage and
printers. LANs can be built with relatively inexpensive hardware, such as hubs, network adapters
and Ethernet cables.
The smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger LANs can accommodate thousands
of computers. A LAN typically relies mostly on wired connections for increased speed and
security, but wireless connections can also be part of a LAN. High speed and relatively low cost
are the defining characteristics of LANs.
LANs are typically used for single sites where people need to share resources among themselves
but not with the rest of the outside world. Think of an office building where everybody should be
able to access files on a central server or be able to print a document to one or more central
printers. Those tasks should be easy for everybody working in the same office, but you would
not want somebody just walking outside to be able to send a document to the printer from their
cell phone! If a local area network, or LAN, is entirely wireless, it is referred to as a wireless
local area network, or WLAN.
Metropolitan Area Network

A metropolitan area network, or MAN, consists of a computer network across an entire city,
college campus or small region. A MAN is larger than a LAN, which is typically limited to a
single building or site. Depending on the configuration, this type of network can cover an area
from several miles to tens of miles. A MAN is often used to connect several LANs together to
form a bigger network. When this type of network is specifically designed for a college campus,
it is sometimes referred to as a campus area network, or CAN.
Wide Area Network

A wide area network, or WAN, occupies a very large area, such as an entire country or the
entire world. A WAN can contain multiple smaller networks, such as LANs or MANs. The
Internet is the best-known example of a public WAN.
Storage-Area Network (SAN)

As a dedicated high-speed network that connects shared pools of storage devices to several
servers, these types of networks don’t rely on a LAN or WAN. Instead, they move storage
resources away from the network and place them into their own high-performance network.
SANs can be accessed in the same fashion as a drive attached to a server. Types of storage-area
networks include converged, virtual and unified SANs.
System-Area Network (also known as SAN)
This term is fairly new within the past two decades. It is used to explain a relatively local
network that is designed to provide high-speed connection in server-to-server applications
(cluster environments), storage area networks (called “SANs” as well) and processor-to-
processor applications. The computers connected on a SAN operate as a single system at very
high speeds.
Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)

As an alternative to traditional switch-based Ethernet LANs, POLAN technology can be
integrated into structured cabling to overcome concerns about supporting traditional Ethernet
protocols and network applications such as PoE (Power over Ethernet). A point-to-multipoint
LAN architecture, POLAN uses optical splitters to split an optical signal from one strand of
optical fiber into multiple signals to serve users and devices.
Enterprise Private Network (EPN)

These types of networks are built and owned by businesses that want to securely connect its
various locations to share computer resources.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)

By extending a private network across the Internet, a VPN lets its users send and receive data as
if their devices were connected to the private network – even if they’re not. Through a virtual
point-to-point connection, users can access a private network remotely

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Types of Networks

 Personal area network, or PAN

Personal Area Network

Local Area Network

Metropolitan Area Network

Wide Area Network

Storage-Area Network (SAN)

Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)

Enterprise Private Network (EPN)

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

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