Types of Computer

Network
On the basis of network size or structure and the area they are localized in computer networks
are classified into three types : –

(1.) Local Area Network(LAN)

(2.) Metropolitan Area Network(MAN)

(3.) Wide Area Network(WAN)

(1.) Local Area Network (LAN)

Definition
o LAN is a type of computer network in which several
computers are connected properly with each other
located within the specific geographical area of
diameter 2 km/distance 5km (such as in the same room,
on the same floor or in the same building or in the same
campus, school, colleges, small business that are
connected) to form a single network as to share different
computer resources by each one (such as disk drives,
printers, data, CPU, fax/modem, applications etc.).

Characteristics/Features
o Local Area Network is a computer network that spans
over a relatively small area. It is confined to small areas
i.e., it connects several devices over a distance of 5 km.
o Most LANs are confined to a single building or group
of buildings within a campus. However, one LAN can
be connected to other LANs over any distance via
telephone lines and radio waves.
o Most LANs connect/use workstations and personal
computers.
o Each node (individual computer) in a LAN has its own
CPU which executes its own programs, but it is also
able to access data and devices anywhere on the LAN
i.e. many users can share data as well as expensive
devices, such as laser printers, fax machines etc.
o Users can also use the LAN to communicate with each
other, by sending e-mail or engaging in chat sessions.
o There are many different types of LANs, Ethernets
being the most common and widely used for PCs. It is
the most widely used and dominant LAN type is the
Ethernet LAN which is based on the bus topology.
o LANs are private networks, hence not subject to tariffs
or other regulatory controls. For the Wireless LANs,
there are additional regulations in several countries.
o They are the smallest computer network.
o They may be Wired LAN or Wireless LAN or Both.
o In LANs data transmission speed is high when
compared to the typical WAN (normal 2 to 100 MB /sec
or up to 1Gbps latest).
o It normally uses Bus & Ring topology in their structure.
o There are different types of Media Access Control
methods applied in a LAN to access or share the data in
which the common/popular ones are Bus based
Ethernet, Token ring etc.
o LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates
i.e. much faster than data can be transmitted over a
telephone line but the distances are limited.
o They use mostly inexpensive equipment.
o They have low error rates.
o The transmission speeds in this network is ranging from
10Mbps to 100Mbps. But, now a days 1000 Mbps/more
are available.
o Structures:
 There are five major components present in a

typical LAN:
i) Basic Network devices – The Nodes,
Workstations, printers, file servers which are the
basic components of the network and are normally
accessed by all other computers of the network.
ii) Network Communication Devices – These
devices are used to connect each basic component
of the network. Here, several Intermediate
nodes/devices (such as repeaters, bridges and
hubs/switches) allow to be connected together to
from larger LANs. A LAN may also be connected
to another LAN or to WANs and MANs using a
Router device.
iii) Network Interface Cards (NICs) – This
hardware device is required to access the network.
It is the interface between the machine and the
physical network.
iv) Cable – This is used as a physical transmission
medium. However, present day LAN may not
require the physical transmission media. It is
mostly a Wireless LAN.
v) Network Operating System – This software
 application is required to control the functioning of
network operation and administration.

Advantages
o It allows sharing of expensive resources among network
components such as printers, software and mass storage
devices.
o Comparatively less complex structure hence low set up
cost.
o LAN allows high-speed exchange of essential
information.
o It contributes to increased productivity.

Disadvantages
o Some type of security system must be implemented if it
is important to protect confidential data in LAN.
o The security may be further low if it is a wireless LAN.
o LAN is restricted to a small area only.
o The distances are limited in LAN and there is also a
limit on the number of computers that can be attached to
a single LAN.

Uses
o LANs are typically installed in offices, businesses,
colleges & universities etc.

(2.) Metropolitan Area

Network(MAN)
Definition
o Metropolitan area networks are large computer network
that spans a metropolitan area or a city or a large
campus falls between a LAN and WAN up to 5-50 km
diameter.
o A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than
a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings to
entire cities.

Characteristics/Features
o It was developed in 1980s.
o They are medium size computer network i.e. the
network size falls intermediate between LAN and
WAN.
o The typical data transmission speed is in the range of 5-
10 Mbps or more.
o It normally uses a special Distributed Queue Dual Bus
[DQDB] topology in their structure.
o This network is normally designed for a city or town.
o A MAN might be owned and operated by a single
organization, but it usually will be used by many
individuals and organizations.
o MANs might also be owned and operated as public
utilities or privately owned as per need.
o They usually connect several LANs or local networks of
the city and forms the MANs.
o They typically use wireless infrastructure or optical
fiber connections to link their sites/components.
o The common devices used are modem, router and
wireless media/cable.
Advantages
o A MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow
sharing of regional resources.
o It is also frequently used to provide a shared connection
to other networks using a link to a WAN.

Disadvantages
o It is difficult to manage & maintenance.
o It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers.
o Set up cost is comparatively high.

Uses
o MANs are typically installed in the city to connect the
various LANs branches of an organization, banks,
businesses etc.

(3.) Wide Area Network(WAN)

Definition
o Wide Area Network is the largest network system
connecting cities, countries or continents LANs, MANs
or WANs using routers and public communications
links and covers whole world/earth.
o WAN is a network that covers the largest geographical
area and covers different cities, states and sometimes
even countries, is known as WAN.

Characteristics/Features
 o The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is
the Internet.
o The typical data transmission speed is in the range of
256Kbps- 2 Mbps or more.
o It normally uses ATM, Frame Relay, Sonet type of
topology in their structure.
o Many WANs are built specific for one particular
organization and are private.
o Many others WANs are built by Internet service
providers, provide connections from an organization’s
LAN to the Internet.
o Communication medium used in WANs may be
satellite, public telephone networks which are connected
by routers.
o Structures:
 WANs are often built using Leased lines. At each

end of the leased line, a router connects to the

LAN on one side and a hub/switch within the
WAN on the other. Leased lines can be very
expensive.
 WANs can also be built around public network or

Internet.

Advantages
o It covers the largest geographical area.
o It is a large place for sharing of software & resources.
o It distributes workload.

Disadvantages
o It requires the costliest set up.
 o WAN has more security problems as compare to MAN
and LAN.
o It needs dedicated firewall and antivirus software for
security purpose.
o It has tough troubleshooting.

Uses
o WANs are used to connect several LANs, MANs and
even WANs together, so that users and computers in
one location can communicate with users and computers
in other locations.
o WANs are typically installed anywhere in the world to
connect the various LANs/MANs and even WANs
branches of same or different organizations, Banks,
businesses, Institutions, Government department etc via
internet/satellite/public network.

Classification of Computer
Network
Depending on the transmission technology used in a network i.e., whether the
network contains switching elements or not, a network is classified into two types
–
(A) Broadcast networks.
(B) Point-to-point/Switched networks.

(A) Broadcast Network

Definition
  A network which has a single communication channel which
is shared by all the machines on the network simultaneously.
 It is a network in which single source communicates with
multiple receiver simultaneously.
 A broadcast transmission simultaneously transmits the same
information to all nodes on a network.
Features

 Broadcasting is a method of transferring a message to all

recipients simultaneously.
 Using this network, a source machine can generally address a
packet to all destinations (machines) by using a special code
in the address field. Such data packets are received and
processed by all the machines in the network. This mode of
operation is called broadcasting.
 Some broadcast networks also support transmission of data
packets to a subset(specific group of networks) of machines
and this type of broadcast is known as Multicasting.
 Here, each machine can subscribe to any or all of the groups
in a network.
 Broadcast information is sent from the source node only once
but a copy of that information is then forwarded to all
devices/receivers on the network.
 Ethernet LAN networks support broadcast transmission, in
which the address resolution protocol (ARP) is used to send
an address resolution query to all computers on the LAN.
 Network layer protocols such as IPv4 also support a form of
broadcast which allows the same data packet to be sent to
every system in a logical network.
 Television signals sent from a public network to receivers
across the country or globe are a common example of
broadcast transmission.
(B) Point-to-point/Switched
Networks
Definition

 A network in which each sender communicates with one

receiver finally passing through various intermediate nodes
or machines.
Features

 In this network, there are many connections between

individual pairs of machines.
 In this network, when a packet travels from source to
destination it may pass from one or more intermediate
machines and finally reach their destination.
 Routing algorithms play an important role in Point-to-point
or Switched networks because often multiple routes of
different lengths are available.
Examples

 A popular example of switched network is the dial-up

telephone system.
Types

There are two different types of point- to-point or switched networks :

(i) Circuit Switched Networks (ii) Packet Switched Networks