Types Of Networks

[Saint_Michael 3]

Since I am taking LAN for a college course actually getting my hands dirty into networks and I thought I share some information and my thoughts about these networks that I have found and based on some general questions given to the students

1. How much distance can be covered? 2. What security issues are there?
3. How much traffic can it handle?
4. What was it originally designed for? (What problem was it designed to solve?)
5. Advantages/disadvantages?
6. What does the future hold for each?

I will say this though, that some of them are aware but others I find very interesting, but could see that most of them deal with the same ideas though.

1 LAN - Local Area Network
2 WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
3 WAN - Wide Area Network
4 MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
5 SAN - Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network
6 CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area
7 PAN - Personal Area Network
8 DAN - Desk Area Network


LAN

1. A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A networked office building, school, or home

usually contains a single LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs (perhaps one per room),

and occasionally a LAN will span a group of nearby buildings. In TCP/IP networking, a LAN is often but not always

implemented as a single IP subnet.

2. When it comes to security issues a LAN is very vulnerable due to the fact that all it takes one computer to

breach the network and that one computer doesn't need to be connected to that network. This can also include

employee's seeking revenge, company espionage, viruses and denial of service (DOS) attacks.

3. Depending on the size of the work and the speeds usually 100Mbps is the max. So it could go anywhere from 5-10

computer to several hundred. however, the more computers that are connected to a single LAN the more it will slow

down the connection and so you would have to set up several of these to get the most effective speed possible.

4. LAN's were design to network two or more computers to help communicate with each other thus being able to send

data back and forth.

5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggest

disadvantage would be security.

6. Has Bright Future

WLAN

1. the distance of a WLAN depends on the strength of the wireless signal, usually this is about a 25 foot radius

from the signal, but the bigger the antennae the longer it can go. There was one WLAN that stretched out to 125

miles.

2. About the same concern for a LAN, however, if a wireless signal is not secured, usually through a wireless

router then a person who has a computer that searches wireless signals can connect and then be able to hack their

way through the network that wireless signal is being produced from.

3. 11Mbps or 54Mbps

4. Able to make computer, PDA's, and cell phones more mobile and thus make it possible for a person to travel with a

computer and be connected without the need for a hard wire connection.

5. Biggest advantage would be that you can communicate with anyone regardless of were you are and that you don't

need a hardware connection. Biggest disadvantage would be security because not all WLAN's are secured.

6. Has Bright Future


WAN

1. A WAN spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth.

2. Pretty much everything you can think of DOS, viruses, Identity theft, crashing systems etc etc.

3. Usually requires high speed connection usually fiber optics and so it could from 1-4Mbps to the size of a T4

connection.

4. Basically to group Large LAN's together and so one person could connect to another person from a much large

distance.

5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggest

disadvantage would be security.

6. In terns of the Internet rumors are going on for years that the Internet is about to crash I would have to say

that WAN's are unknown.


MAN

1. The distance is usually the size of a two or a city and so it could be stretched out for miles such as the size

of New York City.

2. Again the same problems

3. Usually require T1-T4 connections with fiber optic cables

4. Basically to group large LAN's and WAN's together and be able to communicate within a redundant network without

the need for outside connections.

5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggest

disadvantage would be security.

6. As third world nations are growing so will the need for the best technology to help connect growing businesses

together and government buildings.


SAN

1. The distance of a SAN can go from a first floor building to another country in another part of the world since

this is where data is being stored on this type of network.

2. Due to how specific this type of Network is, the loss of data would be the biggest issue, however depending on

that data at least three levels of security are put into place and so you would have to a wizard level hacker to be

able to get into most SAN's.

3. Depending on the size of the SAN and to whatever LAN it is connected to usually p to 2-4Gbps.

4. Used to help store large amounts of data through several hard drivers and thus have a way to restore through a

backup if the data was to be lost in some fashion.

5. Being able to store massive amounts of data that is spread out over several hard drives and not stuck on one

location and again the biggest disadvantage would be security but also loss of data.

6. With the hard drive in the terabytes now SAN's will always keep on growing as the hard drive gets bigger.


CAN

1. It is usually the size of a school campus or military base and so it could be very large depending on the size

of the school or military base.

2. Again usually the same problems with LAN's, WAN's, MAN's.

3. Usually T1-T2 networks are used to set up the connection rates for this kind of network.

4. Military wise to set up a secured and non secured network and so top secret information and other vital data can

be view by those with clearances to do so.

5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggest

disadvantage would be security.

6. I doubt much will change because odds are school will be getting the hand me downs in terms of technology, but

unless your a MIT or Harvard then oyu got he money and government contracts then school networks be better then

some.

PAN

1. The distance of a PAN is usually within the distance of a person itself and so anywhere that person goes that

network follows.

2. For the security issue for this type of network it the theft of the actual devices such as laptops, PDA's and

cell phones and so the loss of the actual device is small compared to the loss of the private data on the computer.

3. from 28K to several hundred Mpbs.

4. Basically to help make electronic devices more mobile such as GPS systems.

5. Being able to transmit data from a computer to an Ipod and other such devices and being able to find someone

through GPS such as cell phones, computers and even GPS devices. Usually these are small enough that they can be

easily stolen or damage.

6. Will get better and better as technology gets better and better.


DAN

1. THe distance is usually the size of a room because each computer is connected to each other and so it could be

the size of two computers to several hundred.


2. Again usually the same problems with LAN's, WAN's, MAN's.


3. Because of the type of computers used for this kind of connection, Fiber optics with T1-T3 lines are the best

but could be as low some of the Gbps connections that are out there on the market.


4. Usually to help speed up projects with the use of the combine computer power such as 3D movies like Little Nemo

from Pixar.

5. If your producing movies then it would take less time to render images with a combination of several hi end

computers, but as for a disadvantage I would say that if computers were to go down then it would stall production

and people would lose money.

6. Same thing technology will gets better and better.


SOURCES

http://www.webopedia.com/
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/
http://www.devx.com/wireless/Article/11424
Edited September 19, 2008 by Saint_Michael (see edit history)

[travstatesmen 0]

That was an interesting look at different networks. Thanks for that. I personally use a PAN, LAN, WLAN, and WAN from home, and at work we have a SAN as well, but we are doing away with the SAN and replacing it with a NAS. I'm not involved in the IT area at work, and I got this job as an end-user. I'm working for a large multinational, and I wanted to get more experience as a corporate end-user, so that when I do get back into IT I will have a better appreciation for the needs of the corporate end-user.

My PAN is very important to me, comprising of my HTC Apache and all of the bluetooth devices that I have connected to it, including the headset, the infra-red keyboard, etc. My LAN at home is a lot smaller than it used to be, as I am migrating more and more of my home network onto the WLAN. The WAN, of course, is my connection to the Internet. I had never heard of a DAN before until you mentioned it, and I would love to see one in action. Maybe this calls for a trip to my local movie effects place, Weta Workshop. You have no doubt heard of them before?

[DeM0nFiRe 0]

Ahh, nice list. I wasn't even aware they had separate names for SAN MAN DAN and CAN. I would probably call them all LAN or WLAN (I guess it's a WAN in the case of MAN)

[anheizhiye 0]

Oh , my god!Now i clear know my tenuity in network!I only know internet(equals t o WAN?),and LAN(which i use everyday in company),the other network,in my memory,i only use one of them-- WLAN,just once, in a large meeting.

[lonebyrd 0]

May I ask if your from the USA or are you from another country. I live in northeastern USA and I just got done taking a networking course 2 semesters ago and I've never heard of some of those. I was wondering if it was different countries?

[ragav.bpl 0]

I will say this though, that some of them are aware but others I find very interesting, but could see that most of them deal with the same ideas though.1 LAN - Local Area Network2 WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network3 WAN - Wide Area Network4 MAN - Metropolitan Area Network5 SAN - Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network6 CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area7 PAN - Personal Area Network8 DAN - Desk Area NetworkLAN1. A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A networked office building, school, or homeusually contains a single LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs (perhaps one per room),and occasionally a LAN will span a group of nearby buildings. In TCP/IP networking, a LAN is often but not alwaysimplemented as a single IP subnet.2. When it comes to security issues a LAN is very vulnerable due to the fact that all it takes one computer tobreach the network and that one computer doesn't need to be connected to that network. This can also includeemployee's seeking revenge, company espionage, viruses and denial of service (DOS) attacks.3. Depending on the size of the work and the speeds usually 100Mbps is the max. So it could go anywhere from 5-10computer to several hundred. however, the more computers that are connected to a single LAN the more it will slowdown the connection and so you would have to set up several of these to get the most effective speed possible.4. LAN's were design to network two or more computers to help communicate with each other thus being able to senddata back and forth.5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggestdisadvantage would be security.6. Has Bright FutureWLAN1. the distance of a WLAN depends on the strength of the wireless signal, usually this is about a 25 foot radiusfrom the signal, but the bigger the antennae the longer it can go. There was one WLAN that stretched out to 125miles.2. About the same concern for a LAN, however, if a wireless signal is not secured, usually through a wirelessrouter then a person who has a computer that searches wireless signals can connect and then be able to hack theirway through the network that wireless signal is being produced from.3. 11Mbps or 54Mbps4. Able to make computer, PDA's, and cell phones more mobile and thus make it possible for a person to travel with acomputer and be connected without the need for a hard wire connection.5. Biggest advantage would be that you can communicate with anyone regardless of were you are and that you don'tneed a hardware connection. Biggest disadvantage would be security because not all WLAN's are secured.6. Has Bright FutureWAN1. A WAN spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth.2. Pretty much everything you can think of DOS, viruses, Identity theft, crashing systems etc etc.3. Usually requires high speed connection usually fiber optics and so it could from 1-4Mbps to the size of a T4connection.4. Basically to group Large LAN's together and so one person could connect to another person from a much largedistance.5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggestdisadvantage would be security.6. In terns of the Internet rumors are going on for years that the Internet is about to crash I would have to saythat WAN's are unknown.MAN1. The distance is usually the size of a two or a city and so it could be stretched out for miles such as the sizeof New York City.2. Again the same problems3. Usually require T1-T4 connections with fiber optic cables4. Basically to group large LAN's and WAN's together and be able to communicate within a redundant network withoutthe need for outside connections.5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggestdisadvantage would be security.6. As third world nations are growing so will the need for the best technology to help connect growing businessestogether and government buildings.SAN1. The distance of a SAN can go from a first floor building to another country in another part of the world sincethis is where data is being stored on this type of network.2. Due to how specific this type of Network is, the loss of data would be the biggest issue, however depending onthat data at least three levels of security are put into place and so you would have to a wizard level hacker to beable to get into most SAN's.3. Depending on the size of the SAN and to whatever LAN it is connected to usually p to 2-4Gbps.4. Used to help store large amounts of data through several hard drivers and thus have a way to restore through abackup if the data was to be lost in some fashion.5. Being able to store massive amounts of data that is spread out over several hard drives and not stuck on onelocation and again the biggest disadvantage would be security but also loss of data.6. With the hard drive in the terabytes now SAN's will always keep on growing as the hard drive gets bigger.CAN1. It is usually the size of a school campus or military base and so it could be very large depending on the sizeof the school or military base.2. Again usually the same problems with LAN's, WAN's, MAN's.3. Usually T1-T2 networks are used to set up the connection rates for this kind of network.4. Military wise to set up a secured and non secured network and so top secret information and other vital data canbe view by those with clearances to do so.5. To many to count but I would say the biggest advantage is communication with other people and the biggestdisadvantage would be security.6. I doubt much will change because odds are school will be getting the hand me downs in terms of technology, butunless your a MIT or Harvard then oyu got he money and government contracts then school networks be better thensome.PAN1. The distance of a PAN is usually within the distance of a person itself and so anywhere that person goes thatnetwork follows.2. For the security issue for this type of network it the theft of the actual devices such as laptops, PDA's andcell phones and so the loss of the actual device is small compared to the loss of the private data on the computer.3. from 28K to several hundred Mpbs.4. Basically to help make electronic devices more mobile such as GPS systems.5. Being able to transmit data from a computer to an Ipod and other such devices and being able to find someonethrough GPS such as cell phones, computers and even GPS devices. Usually these are small enough that they can beeasily stolen or damage.6. Will get better and better as technology gets better and better.DAN1. THe distance is usually the size of a room because each computer is connected to each other and so it could bethe size of two computers to several hundred.2. Again usually the same problems with LAN's, WAN's, MAN's.3. Because of the type of computers used for this kind of connection, Fiber optics with T1-T3 lines are the bestbut could be as low some of the Gbps connections that are out there on the market.4. Usually to help speed up projects with the use of the combine computer power such as 3D movies like Little Nemofrom Pixar.5. If your producing movies then it would take less time to render images with a combination of several hi endcomputers, but as for a disadvantage I would say that if computers were to go down then it would stall productionand people would lose money.6. Same thing technology will gets better and better.AAhhh!!!!This network things gets me crazy mate......This is really a thing i don't wanna mess with. The topic is tooo wast you can't actually discuss abt it in a forum or so...........By the way thanks it was really useful and covered a lot in short.................Saint_Michael You are a great man dude