1.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

PAN is the most basic type of computer network. It is a type of network designed to connect devices
within a short range, typically around one person. It allows your personal devices, like smartphones,
tablets, laptops, and wearables, to communicate and share data with each other. PAN offers a
network range of 1 to 100 meters from person to device providing communication. Its transmission
speed is very high with very easy maintenance and very low cost. This
uses Bluetooth, IrDA, and Zigbee as technology. Examples of PAN are USB, computer, phone, tablet,
printer, PDA, etc.

Types of PAN

 Wireless Personal Area Networks: Wireless Personal Area Networks are created by simply
utilising wireless technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth. It is a low-range network.

 Wired Personal Area Network: A wired personal area network is constructed using a USB.

Advantages of PAN

 PAN is relatively flexible and provides high efficiency for short network ranges.

 It needs easy setup and relatively low cost.

 It does not require frequent installations and maintenance

 It is easy and portable.

 Needs fewer technical skills to use.

Disadvantages of PAN

 Low network coverage area/range.

 Limited to relatively low data rates.

  Devices are not compatible with each other.

 Inbuilt WPAN devices are a little bit costly.

Applications of PAN

 Home and Offices

 Organizations and the Business sector

 Medical and Hospital

 School and College Education

 Military and Defense

2. Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN is the most frequently used network. A LAN is a computer
network that connects computers through a common
communication path, contained within a limited area, that is,
locally. A LAN encompasses two or more computers connected
over a server. The two important technologies involved in this
network are Ethernet and Wi-fi. It ranges up to 2km &
transmission speed is very high with easy maintenance and low
cost. Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, library,
laboratory, college, office, etc.

Advantages of a LAN

 Privacy: LAN is a private network, thus no outside regulatory body controls it, giving it a
privacy.

 High Speed: LAN offers a much higher speed(around 100 mbps) and data transfer rate
comparatively to WAN.
  Supports different transmission mediums: LAN support a variety of communications
transmission medium such as an Ethernet cable (thin cable, thick cable, and twisted pair),
fiber and wireless transmission.

 Inexpensive and Simple: A LAN usually has low cost, installation, expansion and
maintenance and LAN installation is relatively easy to use, good scalability.

Disadvantages of LAN

 The initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high because there is special
software required to make a server.

 Communication devices like an ethernet cable, switches, hubs, routers,

 cables are costly.

 LAN administrator can see and check personal data files as well as Internet history of each
and every LAN user. Hence, the privacy of the users are violated

 LANs are restricted in size and cover only a limited area

 Since all the data is stored in a single server computer, if it can be accessed by an
unauthorized user, can cause a serious data security threat.

3. Campus Area Network (CAN)

CAN is bigger than a LAN but smaller than a MAN. This is a type of computer network that is usually
used in places like a school or colleges. This network covers a limited geographical area that is, it
spreads across several buildings within the campus. CAN mainly use Ethernet technology with a
range from 1km to 5km. Its transmission speed is very high with a moderate maintenance cost and
moderate cost. Examples of CAN are networks that cover schools, colleges, buildings, etc.
Advantages of CAN

 Speed: Communication within a CAN takes place over Local Area Network (LAN) so data
transfer rate between systems is little bit fast than Internet.

 Security: Network administrators of campus take care of network by continuous monitoring,

tracking and limiting access. To protect network from unauthorized access firewall is placed
between network and internet.

 Cost effective: With a little effort and maintenance, network works well by providing fast
data transfer rate with multi-departmental network access. It can be enabled wirelessly,
where wiring and cabling costs can be managed. So to work with in a campus using CAN is
cost-effective in view of performance

4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. This is the
type of computer network that connects computers over a
geographical distance through a shared communication path
over a city, town, or metropolitan area. This network mainly uses
FDDI, CDDI, and ATM as the technology with a range from 5km to
50km. Its transmission speed is average. It is difficult to maintain
and it comes with a high cost. Examples of MAN are networking
in towns, cities, a single large city, a large area within multiple
buildings, etc.

Advantages of MAN

 MAN offers high-speed connectivity in which the speed ranges from 10-100 Mbps.

 The security level in MAN is high and strict as compared to WAN.

  It support to transmit data in both directions concurrently because of dual bus architecture.

 MAN can serve multiple users at a time with the same high-speed internet to all the users.

 MAN allows for centralized management and control of the network, making it easier to
monitor and manage network resources and security.

Disadvantages of MAN

 The architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence, it is hard to design and maintain.

 This network is highly expensive because it required the high cost to set up fiber optics.

 It provides less fault tolerance.

 The Data transfer rate in MAN is low when compare to LANs.

5. Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN is a type of computer network that connects computers over a large geographical distance
through a shared communication path. It is not restrained to a single location but extends over many
locations. WAN can also be defined as a group of local area networks that communicate with each
other with a range above 50km. Here we use Leased-Line & Dial-up technology. Its transmission
speed is very low and it comes with very high maintenance and very high cost. The most common
example of WAN is the Internet.

Advantages of WAN
  It covers large geographical area which enhances the reach of organisation to transmit data
quickly and cheaply.

 The data can be stored in centralised manner because of remote access to data provided by
WAN.

 The travel charges that are needed to cover the geographical area of work can be minimised.

 WAN enables a user or organisation to connect with the world very easily and allows to
exchange data and do business at global level.

Disadvantages of WAN

 Traffic congestion in Wide Area Network is very high.

 The fault tolerance ability of WAN is very less.

 Noise and error are present in large amount due to multiple connection point.

 The data transfer rate is slow in comparison to LAN because of large distances and high
number of connected system within the network.

 Comparison between Different

Computer Networks
Param PAN LAN CAN MAN WAN
eters

Personal Local Campus Metropoli

Full Wide Area
Area Area Area tan Area
Name Network
Network Network Network Network

Bluetooth
FDDI, Leased
Techn , Ethernet
Ethernet CDDi. Line, Dial-
ology IrDA,Zigb & Wifi
ATM Up
ee

Above 50
Range 1-100 m Upto 2km 1 – 5 km 5-50 km
km

Trans
missio
Very High Very High High Average Low
n
Speed

Owner Private Private or

Private Private Private
ship or Public Public
Param PAN LAN CAN MAN WAN
eters

Maint
Moderat Very
enanc Very Easy Easy Difficult
e Difficult
e

Moderat
Cost Very Low Low High Very High
e