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By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Edit History Table of ContentsKey People:Vinton Cerf Lawrence Roberts Douglas Engelbart Leonard Kleinrock J.C.R. Licklider...(Show more)Related Topics:Internet ARPANET e-commerce social network virtual community...(Show more) See all related content → computer network, two or more computers that are connected with one another for the purpose of communicating data electronically. Besides physically connecting computer and communication devices, a network system serves the important function of establishing a cohesive architecture that allows a variety of equipment types to transfer information in a near-seamless fashion. Two popular architectures are ISO Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and IBM’s Systems Network Architecture (SNA). Two basic network types are local-area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WANs). LANs connect computers and peripheral devices in a limited physical area, such as a business office, laboratory, or college campus, by means of links (wires, Ethernet cables, fibre optics, Wi-Fi) that transmit data rapidly. A typical LAN consists of two or more personal computers, printers, and high-capacity disk-storage devices called file servers, which enable each computer on the network to access a common set of files. LAN operating system software, which interprets input and instructs networked devices, allows users to communicate with each other; share the printers and storage equipment; and simultaneously access centrally located processors, data, or programs (instruction sets). LAN users may also access other LANs or tap into WANs. LANs with similar architectures are linked by “bridges,” which act as transfer points. LANs with different architectures are linked by “gateways,” which convert data as it passes between systems. Britannica Quiz What Do You Actually Know About the Internet?WANs connect computers and smaller networks to larger networks over greater geographic areas, including different continents. They may link the computers by means of cables, optical fibres, or satellites, but their users commonly access the networks via a modem (a device that allows computers to communicate over telephone lines). The largest WAN is the Internet, a collection of networks and gateways linking billions of computer users on every continent. Computer Network links two or more computing devices and the computing hardware through various communication channels (i.e. cables, telephone lines, radio waves, wifi, etc.) for data and resource sharing. For example, Bluetooth connection to transfer files, a hotspot for sharing the internet, etc. A network could be small, inclusive of only one system, or as large as one may need. Need for Computer Network
Types Of Computer NetworksThere are various types of computer networks categorized by their size.
Personal Area Network(PAN)It is the smallest and most basic type of computer network. The size of PAN varies from centimeters to 30 meters. PAN network can be classified into two types
Examples of PAN are – USB, Computer, Bluetooth, etc. Advantages Of PAN are-
Disadvantages Of PAN are-
Local Area Network (LAN)LAN can be defined as a cluster of computers connected at a single physical location such as an office, building, etc. It is the most common type of network used. A LAN can also be formed with two computers connected over a network. Hub, Switches, Cables, and Optical fibers are used to connect various computers and devices to a network. Examples of LAN are networking in a home, school, college, office, etc. Advantages Of LAN are-
Disadvantages Of LAN are-
Wide Area Network (WAN)A WAN is a type of computer network that covers a large geographical area. WAN is also defined as the connection of several LANs linked together to cover an entire city or country. The WAN network is provided via several methods such as telephone lines, fiber optics cable, and also through satellite links. Advantages Of WAN are-
Disadvantages Of WAN are-
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)WLAN functions like WAN but without cables i.e, these are wireless. WLAN allows devices to connect wireless and it follows a standard called IEEE 802.11. WLAN connects laptops, smartphones, personal digital assistants, desktop computers, printers, etc. It is easy to install and use. Advantages Of WLAN are-
Disadvantages Of WLAN are-
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)This type of network is created by linking existing LAN networks to cover a large geographical area. MAN is smaller than LAN but larger than WAN. Examples of MAN are networking in government agencies, airports, libraries, etc. Advantages Of MAN are-
Disadvantages Of MAN are-
Storage Area Network(SAN)This network is good for small businesses. SAN network comprises various switches, storage devices, and storage elements that are interconnected with each other. SAN network does not depend upon LAN or WAN networks. Advantages Of SAN are-
Disadvantages Of SAN are-
System-Area Network (SAN)SAN is a conglomeration of networks designed for high-speed interconnection in (server-server) mode. It uses fiber optics to establish this fast connection. Examples of SAN are Fiber channels, etc. Advantages Of SAN are-
Disadvantages Of SAN are-
Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)POLAN functions in a similar way to LAN. It uses optical splitter instead of electrical powered switches to separate and collect optical signals and is based on point to multipoint architecture. Examples of POLAN are networking in medium-size companies, hospitals, hotels, etc. Advantages Of POLAN are-
Disadvantages Of POLAN are-
Enterprise Private Network (EPN)This is a type of private network mostly owned by businesses who want to connect their various branches to share computer resources. Examples of EPN are communication between the head and remote offices, connecting various branches of a parent company, etc. Advantages Of EPN are-
Disadvantages Of EPN are-
Virtual Private Network (VPN)A VPN is a private network that connects remote users or sites using a public network. A VPN uses tunneling or virtual point-to-point connection technology to connect which creates a secure connection between the users or sites having the same IP address. Advantages Of VPN are-
Disadvantages Of VPN are-
Home Area Network (HAN)HAN is used to share various computers or peripheral devices used in the same home. There is one device that acts as a centralized device for the function of Network Address Translation(NAT). Examples of HAN are printers, game systems, tablets, WiFi, etc. Advantages Of HAN are-
Disadvantages Of HAN are-
Computer networks can be described based on their sizes and purpose. The most widely used computer networks are LAN, WAN, MAN, and PAN. We have covered here various types of networks with their advantages and disadvantages. Thanks for reading. Kuldeep Rana Kuldeep is the founder and lead author of ArtOfTesting. He is skilled in test automation, performance testing, big data, and CI-CD. He brings his decade of experience to his current role where he is dedicated to educating the QA professionals. You can connect with him on LinkedIn. In which type of network all computers are connected to each other?Local Area Network (LAN) :
A LAN encompasses two or more computers connected over a server. The two important technologies involved in this network are Ethernet and Wi-fi.
What is it called when two computers are connected together?When two or more computers are connected together so they can communicate with one another, they form a network.
What is LAN MAN and WAN network?LAN is an acronym for Local Area Network. MAN is an acronym for Metropolitan Area Network. WAN is an acronym for Wide Area Network. Definition and Meaning. LAN is a network that usually connects a small group of computers in a given geographical area.
What are the two types of computers in a network?Two basic network types are local-area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WANs).
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