This document classifies and describes different types of computer networks: - Personal area networks (PANs) connect devices within 10 meters and include mobile devices and laptops. - Local area networks (LANs) connect computers within a small area like a school or office building covering up to 1 kilometer. Data is stored on a central server. - Metropolitan area networks (MANs) connect computers across an entire city or campus within a 10 kilometer range using protocols like Frame Relay and fiber optic cables. - Wide area networks (WANs) connect local networks across states and countries using technologies like telephone lines and radio waves, and are widely used in business and education to share files among users.

1. Classification of Computer Networks
Computer Networks
2nd Class
Pranab Bandhu Nath
Senior Lecturer
CSE Department
City University, Dhaka
E-mail: bandhutuhin@gmail.com
web: www.ictdictionary.com
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2. Computer Network Types
• PAN(Personal Area Network) –
• LAN(Local Area Network) –
• MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)-
• WAN(Wide Area Network)- State / Country
Up to 10 Meter Distance
Upto1 Kilometer Distance
10 Kilometer Distance

3. PAN(Personal Area Network)
• Personal Area Network covers an area of 10 meters.
• PAN includes mobile devices, tablet, and laptop.
• Thomas Zimmerman was the first research scientist to bring the idea
of the Personal Area Network.

4. LAN(Local Area Network)
• Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small area such as school,
laboratory, home, and office building.
• It is a network which consists of less than 5000 interconnected devices across several buildings.
• Data of all network users can be stored on a single hard disk of the server computer.
• Local Area Network provides higher security.

5. MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
• Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is consisting of a computer network across an entire city,
college campus, or a small region
• The most widely used protocols in MAN are RS-232, Frame Relay, ATM, ISDN, OC-3, ADSL, etc.
• It offers fast communication using high-speed carriers, like fiber optic cables.

6. WAN(Wide Area Network)-
• WAN network system could be a connection of a LAN which connects with other LAN's using
telephone lines and radio waves. It is mostly limited to an enterprise or an organization.
• A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education.
• The software files will be shared among all the users; therefore, all can access to the latest files.

7. Do you have any Questions?