Networks based on Coverage: LAN, MAN and WAN
Networks based on Coverage: LAN, MAN and WAN
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.
How big is the internet?
Really big, I would say.
Internet has connected people from all around the world. By logic it should be messy, you know, with this HUGE number of devices sending information back and forth at all times. But the internet is not messy at all. It provides the correct information to the correct user every time, How does it do that?
This is because, the internet groups its users in terms of size, ownership and functions. Because of this, the sender and receiver are easily located and communication of information takes place with ease.
In today's article, we shall discuss the networks based on size or area covered. The different types of distance based networks are PAN, LAN, CAN, MAN & WAN.
For your reference, the approximate maximum distance between any two communicating computers for each of the networks is given below:
PAN (Personal Area Network) : Few meters (within a room, home)
LAN (Local Area Network): less than 1 km (Intra–Floor, Building)
CAN (Campus Area Network): 5 to 10 kms (Within a Campus)
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): within 50 km (Intra-City)
WAN (Wide Area Network): above 50 Kms (Intercity, International, Intercontinental)
We will discuss the three most prominent forms of networks based on coverage in our articles. These are LAN, MAN and WAN. We shall
Let's start things off with MAN.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is somewhere between a LAN and a WAN. The term MAN is sometimes used to refer to networks which connect systems or local area networks within a metropolitan area (roughly 40 km in length from one point to another).
A MAN interconnects computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by a large LAN but smaller than the area covered by a WAN.
A MAN can support both data and voice. Cable television networks are examples of MANs that distribute television signals. A MAN just has one or two cables and does not contain switching elements.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Wide Area Networks are telecommunications networks that cover large geographic areas with various communication facilities such as long distance telephone service, satellite transmission, and under-sea cables. These networks cover areas such as:
- Large city or metropolitan area
- Whole country
- Many countries and continents
Examples of WANs are interstate banking networks and airline reservation systems
Well, this article is getting as long as it gets, let's discuss LAN in the next article. Here is a link for your reference.
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Thank You!
