Different Types of Computer network on the basis of Network Architecture, Geographical Area and Topology

• On Basis of Network Architecture

• peer-to-peer network architecture
• Client-server network architecture

• On Basis of Geographical Area/Size
  • LAN
  • MAN
  • WAN

• On Basis of Topologies
  • Bus Topology
  • Star Topology
  • Ring Topology
  • Mesh Topology
  • Tree Topology
  • Hybrid Topolgy

LAN (Local Area Network)

• Local area network is a group of computers connected with each other in small places (up to a few Km) usually a building, school, hospital, etc. to share the resource available on the server. The group of computers and network devices in the local area network is connected by switches, hubs, etc.
• It is fast with a speed from 100Mbps and more due to small in size.

• LAN is easy to design and maintain. A communication medium used for LAN networks are twisted pair, coaxial cables.
• Lower cost compared to WAN, MAN network due to requirement of such least expensive network devices such NIC, Hubs, Switches, wires, etc.
• Device used in the LAN area is Hub, Switch, cable, etc.
• Main protocols are Ethernet and Token passing.
• Common topology for LAN are a bus, ring, star, etc.
• High security due to no outside connection.
• The fault tolerance of LAN is more and there is less congention in this network.
• It is based on broadcast
• example: 10 Computers connected with a common printer.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

• A network which covers up to 100Km diameter geographical area which is a larger than LAN & spans within one metropolitan city or more city. It covers large geographical area and may serve as an ISP.
• Public or private own network.
• Branch offices are connected to Head office through MAN.
• The data transfer rate 10Mbps is less than LAN and higher than WAN.
• protocols used in this network is frame relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode(ATM), etc
• Mainly device used are Modem, Router, Cable, etc
• Common topology are mesh, hybrid, etc.
• It can connect 100s of LAN and 1000s of individual computers.
• It uses wired or wireless transmission medial such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, microwave, radio link wave, etc.
• It’s is hard to design and maintain the MAN.
• Faul tolerance of MAN is less, More congestion than LAN.
• Example: Cable TV network, Telephone company, ISP.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

• WAN is a network which covers a large geographical area (generally more than 100km) such as country, the continent, or even the whole world.
• It is nothing but simply the interconnection of two or more LAN & MAN networks via telephone lines or microwave.
• To cover great distances, WAN may transmit data over leased high Speed ( 64Kbps to 10Mbps or more).
• Mainly uses devices are Router, Modem, Fiber, radio link, etc.
• It is less secure than LAN, MAN, and has the highest error rate.
• WAN is difficult to designed and maintain.
• WAN has more propagation delay than LAN and MAN.
• It is complex due to the large area cover makes a large network.
• Used transmission media telephone line, radio wave, microwave, optical fiber.
• Best example of a Wide Area Network is the internet.
• Used protocol: TCP, FTP, HTTP, etc
• Used topology Mesh, hybrid