Types of Networks

TYPES OF NETWORKS

• There are three types of networksLOCAL AREA NETWORKMETROPOLITAN AREA NETWORKWIDE AREA NETWORK

Local Area Network

• Group of computers and associated devices that Group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless share a common communications line or wireless linklink

• Spread over a small geographic areaSpread over a small geographic area• Some major LAN technologies areSome major LAN technologies are

∆ ∆ EthernetEthernet ∆∆ Token Ring Token Ring ∆∆ FDDI FDDI

A Local Area Network

Local Area Network

• A large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus

• interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs)

• provides up-link services to wide area networks and the Internet

Metropolitan Area Network

Metropolitan Area Network

Metropolitan Area Network

• A group of the computers that are separated by a large distance and tied together

• Can even be a group of LANs that are spread across several locations and connected together

• Facilitates fast & efficient exchange of information at lesser costs & higher speeds

• The largest WAN is existence in Internet

Wide Area Network

A Wide Area Network

Difference b/w LAN & Difference b/w LAN & WANWAN

LOCAL AREA NETWORK

• Diameter of not more than a few kilometers.

• A total data rate of at least several mbps.

• Complete ownership by a single organization (generally).

• Very low error rates

WIDE AREA NETWORK

• Span entire country.• Data rate less than 1mbps.• Owned by multiple

organizations.• Comparatively higher error

rates.