LAN, MAN, WAN

                         LAN, WAN, MAN                          

What is a Computer Network?

COLLECTION OF AUTONOMOUS computers interconnected by a single technology is called a computer network. Two computers are set to be interconnected if they are able to exchange information. The connection can be through a copper wire, fiber optics, microwaves, infrared, or satellite.

LAN [LOCAL AREA NETWORK]

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a collection of networking

 ALAN IS A COLLECTION OF NETWORKING equipment located geographically close together.

E.g. Single room, campus, etc.

 Data transferred in High speed which ranges from 100Mbps to gigabit for system development and have a low implementation cost.

Upper limit: 10 km; Lower limit: 1 km

A twisted pair cable or Co-axial cable connects the plug-in cards to form a network.

Designed to share resources between PCs and workstations such as hardware or DATA.                                                                                                                                                    

USAGE OF LAN

A WORK TO INTERNET CONNECTIONS WOULD MOST LIKELY REQUIRE BROADCAST NETWORK LAN WITH A CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET (PACKET-SWITCHED NETWORK)

 ADVANTAGES

1. COST REDUCTIONS THROUGH SHARING OF INFORMATION AND DATABASES, RESOURCES, AND NETWORK SEVICES.

2. INCREASES INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN AN ORGANIZATION, OR BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS.

3. THE TREND TO AUTOMATE COMMUNICATION AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

DISADVANTAGES

1. SPECIAL SECURITY MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO STOP USERS FROM USING PROGRAMS AND DATA THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

2. NETWORKS ARE DIFFICULT TO SET UP AND NEED TO BE MAINTAINED BY SKILLED TECHNICIANS.

3. IF THE FILE SERVER DEVELOPS A SERIOUS FAULT, ALL THE USERS ARE AFFECTED, RATHER THAN JUST ONE USER IN THE CASE OF A STANDALONE MACHINE.

 MAN [MERTROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK]

The metropolitan area network (MAN) is designed to extend over an entire city.

It may be a single network such as a cable television network available in many cities.

A MAN uses distributed queue dual bus.

Range: Within 100 km (a city).

ADVANTAGES OF MAN

1. It provides a good backbone for a large network and provides greater access to WANs.

2. The dual bus used in MAN helps the transmission of data in both directions simultaneously.

3. A Man usually encompasses several blocks OF A CITY OR AN ENTIRE CITY

 

DISADVANTAGES OF MAN

More cable is required for a MAN connection from one place to another.

It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers and industrial espionage (spying) graphical regions.

 WAN [WIDE AREA NETWORK]

A network that provides long-distance transmission of data, voice, image, and video information over

large geographical areas that may comprise a country, a continent.

Range: Beyond 100 km.

ADVANTAGES OF WAN

1. COVERS A LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA SO long-distance businesses can connect on one network.

2. Shares software and resources with connecting workstations.

3. Messages can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network. These messages can have pictures, sounds, or data included with them (called attachments).

4. Expensive things (such as printers or phone lines to the internet) can be shared by all the computers on the network without having to buy a different peripheral for each computer.

DISADVANTAGES OF WAN

1. Need a good firewall to restrict outsiders from entering and disrupting the network

2. Setting up a network can be expensive, slow, and complicated. The bigger the network the more expensive it is.

3. Once set up, maintaining a network is a full-time job that requires network supervisors and technicians to be employed.