2. Local Area Network (LAN)
οA LAN is a networkthat is used for communicating
among computer devices,usually within an office
building or home.
οLANβs enable the sharing of resources such as files
or hardware devices that may be needed by
multiple users
οIs limitedin size,typically spanning a fewhundred
meters, and no more than a mile
οIs fast, with speeds from10 Mbps to 10 Gbps
οRequires little wiring,typically a single cable
connecting to each device.
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
οA metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large
computer network that usually spans a city or a large
campus.
οA MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area
than a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings
to entire cities.
οA MAN might be owned and operated by a single
organization, but it usually will be used by many
individuals and organizations.
οA MAN often acts as a high speed network to allow
sharing of regional resources.
οA MAN typically covers an area of between 5 and 50
km diameter.
4. Wide Area Network (WAN)
ο WAN covers a large geographic area such as country,
continent or even whole of the world.
ο A WAN is two or more LANs connected together. The LANs
can be many miles apart.
ο To cover great distances, WANs may transmit data over
leased high-speed phone lines or wireless links such as
satellites.
ο Multiple LANs can be connected together using devices
such as bridges, routers, or gateways, which enable them
to share data.
ο The world's most popular WAN is the Internet.
5. Personal Area Network (PAN)
ο A PAN is a network that is used for communicating among
computers and computer devices (including telephones) in
close proximity of around a few meters within a room
ο It can be used for communicating between the devices
themselves, or for connecting to a larger network such as
the internet.
ο PANβs can be wired or wireless
ο A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used
for communication among computer devices, including
telephones and personal digital assistants,in proximity to
an individual's body.
ο The devices may or may not belong to the person in
question. The reach of a PAN is typically a few meters.
6. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
ο A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a wireless computer
network that links two or more devices usinga wireless distribution
method (often spread-spectrum or OFDM radio)within a limited
area such as a home, school,computer laboratory,oroffice building.
ο This gives users the abilityto move around within a local coverage
area and still be connected to the network, and can provide a
connection to the wider Internet.
ο Most modern WLANs are based on IEEE 802.11 standards,marketed
under the Wi-Fi brand name.
ο Wireless LANs have become popularin the home due to ease of
installationand use, and in commercial complexes offering wireless
access to their customers;often for free.
ο New York City, for instance, has begun a pilot program to provide city
workers in all five boroughs of the city with wireless Internet access.
7. Storage Area Network (SAN)
ο A storage area network (SAN) is a dedicated networkthat provides
access to consolidated, blocklevel data storage.
ο SANs are primarilyused to enhance storage devices, such as disk
arrays, tape libraries,and optical jukeboxes,accessible to servers so
that the devices appearlike locallyattached devices to
the operatingsystem.
ο A SAN typicallyhas its own network of storage devices that are
generallynot accessible through the local area network (LAN) by
other devices.
ο The cost and complexityof SANs dropped in the early 2000s to
levels allowingwider adoption across both enterprise and small to
medium sized business environments.
ο A SAN does not provide file abstraction,onlyblock-level operations.
8. Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET)
ο A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a continuouslyself-
configuring,infrastructure-less networkofmobile devices
connected without wires.
ο Each device in a MANET is free to move independentlyin any
direction,and will therefore change its links to other devices
frequently.
ο The primarychallenge in buildinga MANET is equippingeach
device to continuouslymaintain the information requiredto
properlyroute traffic.
ο MANETs are a kind of Wireless ad hoc network that usuallyhas a
routable networkingenvironmenton top of a Link Layer ad hoc
network.
ο MANETs circa 2000-2015 typicallycommunicate at radio
frequencies (30 MHz - 5 GHz).
9. Vehicular ad hoc Network (VANET)
ο A vehicularad hoc network (VANET) uses cars as mobile nodes in
a MANET to create a mobile network.
ο A VANET turns every participatingcarinto a wireless router or
node, allowingcars approximately100 to 300 meters of each other
to connect and, in turn,create a networkwith a wide range.
ο As cars fall out of the signal range and drop out of the network,
other cars can join in,connectingvehicles to one another so that a
mobile Internet is created.
ο It is estimated that the first systems that will integrate this
technologyare police and fire vehicles to communicate with each
other for safety purposes.
ο Automotive companies like General
Motors, Toyota,Nissan,DaimlerChrysler, BMW and Ford promote
this term.
10. Zig Bee
ο ZigBee is a specification fora suite of high-level communication
protocols used to create personal area networks built from small,
low-power digital radios.
ο ZigBee is based on an IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
ο Though its low power consumption limits transmission distances to
10β100 meters line-of-sight,dependingon power output and
environmentalcharacteristics.
ο ZigBee is typicallyused in low data rate applications that require
long batterylife and secure networking.
ο ZigBee has a defined rate of 250 Kbit/s, best suited forintermittent
data transmissions from a sensoror input device.
11. Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
ο WLL is a system that connects subscribers to the local telephone
station wirelessly.
ο WLL permits local loop service for subscriber call origination and for
receipt of calls.
ο WLL applies to voice and data services.
ο WLL provides signalingmechanisms between the serving system
and the mobile station orthe network interface unit.
ο This signalingmechanism permits the exchange of call control
information.
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