NETWORK TYPES

NETWORK TYPES
• A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that
enables the computer to communicate with another computer and
share their resources, data, and applications.
• A computer network can be categorized by their size.
• A computer network is mainly of three types:
 Local Area Network (LAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
• Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other
in a small area such as a building or office.
• LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through
a communication medium such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.
• It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs,
network adapters, and ethernet cables.
• The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area
Network.
• LAN can be connected using a common cable or a Switch.
METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK
(MAN)
• A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger
geographic area by interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger
network.
• It generally covers towns and cities (50 km)
• In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a
telephone exchange line.
• Communication medium used for MAN are optical fibers, cables etc.
• It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN). It is adequate for
distributed computing applications.
WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)
• A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large
geographical area such as states or countries.
• A Wide Area Network is quite a bigger network than the LAN.
• A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans
over a large geographical area through a telephone line, fiber optic
cable or satellite links.
• The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
• A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business,
government, and education.
INTERNETWORK
• Internetwork refers to the practice of connecting multiple networks
together to create a larger and more complex network. It enables data
communication and resource sharing between these networks,
regardless of their underlying technologies, protocols, or physical
infrastructures. The goal of internetworking is to make it possible for
diverse networks to work together as a unified system.
• The common two types of internetwork includes: Intranet and Extranet.
• An intranet and an extranet are both private computer networks used
by organizations for different purposes. They are variations of the
internet but with restricted access and specific uses.
Types of Internetwork
Intranet
• An intranet is a private network within an organization that uses internet
technologies and protocols to share information, data, and resources among its
employees or members.
• It is a closed network accessible only to authorized users within the organization,
typically through a secure login process.
• Intranets are used for internal communication, collaboration, sharing documents,
and managing information, making it easier for employees to access resources
and work together.
• They are typically used for corporate purposes like sharing company news,
internal documents, HR policies, and more, improving overall productivity and
information flow within the organization.
 Extranet:
• An extranet is an extension of an intranet, but it allows limited access to
authorized external parties, such as customers, suppliers, or business partners.
• It is a network that enables specific, trusted external entities to interact with
an organization's internal systems and resources, often through a secure
authentication process.
• Extranets are commonly used for collaboration and sharing information with
external stakeholders while maintaining control and security.
• Examples of extranet applications include online customer portals, supplier
access to inventory data, and joint project collaboration with partner
organizations.
Networking devices
Networking devices
• Networking devices are hardware components that are used to
connect and facilitate communication between different devices and
networks in a computer network.
• These devices play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of data,
information, and resources within a network.
• There are various types of networking devices, each designed to
perform specific functions in a network. Some common networking
devices include: NIC, Hub, Switch, Router, Repeater, Bridge, Gateway,
etc
NIC (Network Interface Card):
• A NIC is a hardware component that allows a computer to
connect to a network.
• It serves as the interface between the computer and the network
medium (wired or wireless).
• NICs have a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address that
helps in identifying the device on the network.
HUB
• A hub is a basic networking device that operates at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model.
• It connects multiple devices in a network, but it doesn't make intelligent decisions regarding data forwarding.
• It broadcasts data to all connected devices, leading to inefficient data transmission and a high collision rate.
 The three types of hubs are:
 Passive Hub:
• A passive hub is the simplest type of hub. It doesn't amplify or regenerate the incoming signals; it only serves as a central point for
connecting devices in a network.
• Data received on one port is broadcast to all other ports, which can lead to network congestion and collisions.
• Passive hubs are rarely used today due to their limitations in network performance.
 Active Hub (Amplifying Hub):
• An active hub, also known as an amplifying hub, is an improvement over the passive hub.
• It regenerates incoming signals and sends them out to all connected ports, effectively boosting the signal strength.
• Active hubs help extend the range of a network and reduce signal degradation over long cable runs.
• However, like passive hubs, they do not make intelligent decisions about data forwarding and are less common in modern
networking.
 Intelligent Hub (Smart Hub):
• An intelligent hub, also known as a smart hub, is the most advanced type of hub.
• It has some limited intelligence and can make basic decisions about how to forward data within the network.
• Intelligent hubs can monitor network traffic and filter unnecessary broadcast traffic to reduce network congestion and collisions.
• While more sophisticated than passive or active hubs, intelligent hubs have largely been replaced by network switches, which
offer more advanced and efficient data handling.
SWITCH
• A switch is a small hardware device which is used to join multiple computers
together with one local area network (LAN).
• Switches are used to forward the packets based on MAC addresses.
• Packet collision is minimum as it directly communicates between source and
destination.
• It does not broadcast the message as it works with limited bandwidth.
• A switch’s primary job is to receive incoming packets on one of its links and to
transmit them on some other link.
• A Switch transfers the data only to the device that has been addressed.
• Input ports receive a stream of packets, analyze the header, determine the
output port and pass the packet onto the fabric.
Types of Switch
 Two- Layer Switch
• The two-layer switch performs at the physical and the data link layer.
• It is a bridge with many ports, and the design allows faster performance.
• A bridge is used to connect different LANs together.
• The two-layer switch can make a filtering decision based on the MAC address of
the received frame. However, a two-layer switch has a buffer which holds the
frame for processing.
 Three- Layer Switch
• The three-layer switch is a router.
• The switching fabric in a three-layer allows a faster table lookup and forwarding
mechanism.
ROUTER
• A router is a three-layer device.
• It operates in the physical, data-link, and network layers.
• As a physical-layer device, it regenerates the signal it receives.
• As a link-layer device, the router checks the physical addresses (source and destination)
contained in the packet.
• As a network-layer device, a router checks the network-layer addresses.
• A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses.
• A router can connect networks. A router connects the LANs and WANs on the internet.
• A router is an internetworking device.
• It connects independent networks to form an internetwork.
• The key function of the router is to determine the shortest path to the destination.
• Router has a routing table, which is used to make decision on selecting the route.
• The routing table is updated dynamically based on which they make decisions on routing the
data packets.
REPEATER
• A repeater receives the signal, and it regenerates the signal in the original bit pattern
before the signal gets too weak or corrupted.
• It is used to extend the physical distance of LAN.
• Repeater works on the physical layer.
• A repeater has no filtering capability.
• A repeater is implemented in computer networks to expand the coverage area of the
network repropagate a weak or broken signal and or service remote nodes.
• Repeaters amplify the received/input signal to a higher frequency domain so that it is
reusable, scalable and available.
• Repeaters are also known as signal boosters or range extenders.
• A repeater cannot connect two LANs, but it connects two segments of the same LAN.
BRIDGE
• Bridges operate in the physical layer as well as the data link layer.
• As a physical layer device, they regenerate the received signal.
• As a data link layer, the bridge checks the physical (MAC) address (of
the source and the destination) contained in the frame.
• The bridge has a filtering feature.
• It can check the destination address of a frame and decide if the
frame should be forwarded or dropped.
• Bridges connect two LANs working on the same protocol.
GATEWAY
• A gateway is a networking device or software application that operates at the network layer
(Layer 3) or higher in the OSI model. It serves as an interface between different networks,
protocols, or communication systems, allowing them to communicate and understand each
other. Gateways are more complex and versatile than bridges and can perform protocol
translation and routing functions.
• Function: Gateways translate and route data between networks with different protocols or
communication standards. They enable communication between networks that would not
otherwise be able to interact due to differences in data format or communication methods.
• Use Cases:
• Connecting an Ethernet LAN to the Internet, where the gateway device often includes a router and
firewall.
• Translating data between different communication protocols, such as from Ethernet to Wi-Fi or from
a proprietary industrial protocol to standard IP for IoT applications.
• Bridging communication between a local network and a cloud-based service
Modem
• A modem (short for modulator-demodulator) is a device used to
modulate and demodulate digital data into analog signals for
transmission over analog communication lines.
• It is used to connect a computer or network to the internet or other
remote networks through phone lines, cable, or fiber optics.
• Modems are commonly used for DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), cable,
and dial-up internet connections.