3.1 Network Basic ( Classification of Network )

Networks typically are classified as

 ☻ LOCAL AREA NETWORK  ( LAN )

•A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area

•A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a LAN that uses no physical wires

Advantages

•Easy to share devices(printers, scanners, external drives)

•Easy to share data (homework, pictures)

•Cost of LAN Setup is low.

Disadvantages 

•Power - a good LAN is required to be on all the times.

•Security - each computer and device become another point of entry for undesirables.

•if all computers running at once, can reduce speed for each.

•Area covered is limited

☻ METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK ( MAN )\

•    A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a high-speed network that connects local area networks in a metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region.

❤  Type of MAN

✿  Campus Area Network (CAN)

•A campus network is a computer network made up of an interconnection of local area networks (LAN's) within a limited geographical area. 

•In the case of a university campus-based campus network, the network is likely to link a variety of campus buildings including; academic departments, the university library and student residence halls.

Advantages

•efficiency and shared access.

•All the computer-owning residents of the area have equal ability to go on line. 

Disadvantages

•it can be costly (hardware, software, support, etc.).

•security problems

•As the network consists of many computers over the span of a city, the connection can lag or become quite slow.

 ☻ Wide Area network ( WAN )

A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area (such as a city, country, or the world) using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves.

 The Internet is the world’s largest WAN

Advantages

•increased efficiency, ease of communication, and lowered costs. 

Disadvantages

•security problems

•training costs

•maintenance problems. Large enterprises will dedicate personnel to maintaining their WAN.

How Are LAN, MAN, and WAN Different