Computer Network

 A NETWORK CONSISTS OF
TWO OR MORE COMPUTERS
THAT ARE LINKED TOGETHER
IN ORDER TO SHARE
RESOURCES, EXCHANGE
FILES, OR ALLOW
ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION.
 Types Of Network

There are three types of network:

1. LAN ( Local Area Network)
2. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
3. WAN (Wide Area Network)
Local Area Network:-

 A Local Area Network (LAN) is group of

computers and associated devices that share a
common communications line or wireless link.
 Typically, connected devices share the
resources of a single processor or server within a
small geographic area.
 A LAN may serve as few as two or three users or
as many thousands of users.
Wired LAN Wireless LAN
 LAN Advantages
 The basic LAN implementation
does not cost too much.
 It is easy to control and manage
as it is in small region.
 The systems or devices connected
on LAN communicates at very
high speed depending upon LAN
type and Ethernet cables such as
10Mbps or 1000Mbps.
 It is easy to share common
resources such as printers and
internet line among multiple LAN
users.
LAN Disadvantages
 LAN covers small geographical
area limited to few kilometers.
 Appearance of virus in one system
can spread very fast to all the LAN
users very easily.
 In the server based LAN
architecture, if server develops
some fault, all the users are
affected.
 Security issues are big concern as
it is easy to have access to
programs and data of peers.
Special security measures are
needed to stop unauthorized
access.
Metropolitan Area Network:-
 A metropolitan area
network (MAN) is a network
that interconnects users with
computer resources in a
geographic area or region
larger than that covered by
even a large local area
network (LAN) but smaller
than the area covered by a
wide area network (WAN).
 Speed of transmission is
 MAN advantages
 It utilizes drawbacks of both
LAN and WAN to provide
larger and controllable
computer network.
 MAN requires fewer resources
compare to WAN. This saves
the Implementation cost.
 It provides higher security
compare to WAN.
 It helps people interface fast
LANs together. This is due to
easy implementation of links.
MAN disadvantages
 It is difficult to manage the network
once it becomes large.
 It is difficult to make the system
secure from hackers and industrial
espionage.
 Network installation requires skilled
technicians and network
administrators. This increases overall
installation and management costs.
 It requires more cables for
connection from one place to the
other compare to LAN.
Wide Area Network
 A wide area network (WAN) is a
telecommunications network that
extends over a large geographical
area for the primary purpose of
computer networking.