Explained: Network Types
Now that we are familiar with different network devices, it is time to explore the different types of networks. There are many configurations, but for our purposes, they are organized from the most local area (smallest geographical area) to widest area (largest geographical area). Before we discuss the different network types, lets lay some ground work by defining two types of device relationships:
Peer-to-Peer vs. Client-Server:
In the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) relationship, there are no designated clients (a device requesting data) or servers (a device designed to solely provide requested data). Each machine in the network can act as both a server and a client, sometimes requesting data from another device and other times responding to a request for data from a device.
A Client-Server relationship is precisely the opposite. In a Client-Server relationship, there are definitive clients and servers, each fulfilling their individually described roles above. Today, Client-Server relationships are the more common of the two types.
Okay, now that we’ve cleared up the two types of device relationships, let’s take a look at the different network types:
PAN: A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a network that is centered around an individual person and their devices. A PAN allows for various devices, such as a laptop, smartphone, headphones, or wireless keyboard and mouse, to communicate with each other. The most common wireless example of this is the technology we know as Bluetooth and in the case of a wired connection, USB. An example of a PAN would be your phone as it sends and receives data from wireless headphones, such as when you are streaming music.
LAN / WLAN: A Local Area Network (LAN) is comprised of multiple devices connected within a limited area. LANs can be comprised of wired, wireless, or a hybrid of both to connect to the devices. In fact, many LANs are wireless or WLANs, allowing connected users to move around within the Wi-Fi coverage area unincumbered. A real world example of a LAN / WLAN would be your own home network.
CAN: A Campus Area Network (CAN) is comprised of multiple LANs across a confined area, such as a corporate or university campus. Each building has it's own LAN, with the CAN linking them together in much the same way that a WAN does; albeit it over a smaller geographic area. The CAN typically connects local networks belonging to the same entity.
MAN: A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) provides network connectivity across a larger area than a CAN, but smaller than a WAN, such as a whole city / metropolitan area (hence the name). However, a MAN is not specifically limited by a city’s boundaries. A MAN is made up of multiple LANs and is owned by a group of organizations and government entities within the city. A municipality that provides public Wi-Fi or uses network connected devices such as street lights or surveillance cameras across the city, are utilizing a MAN.
WAN: A Wide Area Network (WAN) is similar to a LAN except that it covers a large geographic area within the network. A WAN is easiest thought of as a network that connects smaller networks. WANs can connect these small networks for hundreds or thousands of miles to transfer data. The Internet is an example of a WAN, as it connects individual users from all over the world. After all, when surfing the web, we are just connecting to someone else’s computer hosting the site.
After reading through the above, I am sure you can identify at least a couple of these network types within your own home. If you have your phone connected to wireless headphones, that’s a PAN! The same phone, when connected to your home Wi-Fi, is now part of your personal WLAN; and when on cell signal, well that is your provider’s WAN!
I’d love to chat about these different network types further and invite you to reach out to me here. Thank you for your time!
