Networking is a process of connecting two more than two computers with the purpose to share data, providing technical support, and communicating especially for business purposes. Internet is the technology that is used to connect different computer systems (located in different geographic locations). Networking technology has revolutionized the world and created a new arena for the overall development of every nation.

Types of networking

There are two primary types of computer networking: wired networking and wireless networking.

Wired Networking

Wired networking requires the use of a physical medium for transport between nodes. Copper-based Ethernet cabling, popular due to its low cost and durability, is commonly used for digital communications in businesses and homes. Alternatively, optical fiber is used to transport data over greater distances and at faster speeds, but it has several tradeoffs, including higher costs and more fragile components.

Wireless Networking

Wireless networking uses radio waves to transport data over the air, enabling devices to be connected to a network without any cabling. Wireless LANs are the most well-known and widely deployed form of wireless networking. Alternatives include microwave, satellite, cellular, and Bluetooth, among others.

Some of the most popular computer network types are: PAN (Personal Area Network) LAN (Local Area Network) MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) WAN (Wide Area Network)

What is PAN (Personal Area Network)

PAN (Personal Area Network) is a computer network formed around a person. It generally consists of a computer, mobile, or personal digital assistant. PAN can be used for establishing communication among these personal devices for connecting to a digital network and the internet.

Characteristics of PAN

It is mostly personal devices network equipped within a limited area. Allows you to handle the interconnection of IT devices at the surrounding of a single user. PAN includes mobile devices, tablets, and laptops. It can be wirelessly connected to the internet called WPAN. Appliances use for PAN: cordless mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth systems.

Advantages of PAN

Here are the important pros/benefits of the PAN network:

• PAN networks are relatively secure and safe
• It offers only short-range solutions up to ten meters
• Strictly restricted to a small area.

Disadvantages of PAN

Here are the cons/drawbacks of using the PAN network:

• It may establish a bad connection to other networks at the same radio bands.
• Distance limits.

What is a LAN (Local Area Network)

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computer and peripheral devices which are connected in a limited area such as a school, laboratory, home, and office building. It is a widely useful network for sharing resources like files, printers, games, and other applications. The simplest type of LAN network is to connect computers and a printer in someone’s home or office. In general, LAN will be used as one type of transmission medium. It is a network that consists of less than 5000 interconnected devices across several buildings.

Characteristics of LAN

Here are the important characteristics of a LAN network:

• It is a private network, so an outside regulatory body never controls it.
• LAN operates at a relatively higher speed compared to other WAN systems.
• There are various kinds of media access control methods like token rings and ethernet.

Advantages of LAN

Here are the pros/benefits of LAN:

• Computer resources like hard disks, DVD-ROM, and printers can share local area networks. This significantly reduces the cost of hardware purchases.
• You can use the same software over the network instead of purchasing the licensed software for each client in the network.
• Data of all network users can be stored on a single hard disk of the server computer.
• You can easily transfer data and messages over networked computers.
• It will be easy to manage data in only one place, which makes data more secure.
• Local Area Network offers the facility to share a single internet connection among all the LAN users.

Disadvantages of LAN

Here are the cons/drawbacks of LAN:

• LAN will indeed save cost because of shared computer resources, but the initial cost of installing Local Area Networks is quite high.
• The LAN admin can check the personal data files of every LAN user, so it does not offer good privacy.
• Unauthorized users can access critical data of an organization in case the LAN admin is not able to secure a centralized data repository.
• Local Area Network requires a constant LAN administration as there are issues related to software setup and hardware failures

What is WAN (Wide Area Network)

WAN (Wide Area Network) is another important computer network that is spread across a large geographical area. A WAN network system could be a connection of LAN which connects with other LANs using telephone lines and radio waves. It is mostly limited to an enterprise or an organization.

Characteristics of WAN

Below are the characteristics of WAN:

• The software files will be shared among all the users; therefore, all can access the latest files.
• Any organization can form its global integrated network using WAN.
• Advantages of WAN

• Here are the benefits/pros of WAN:

• WAN helps you to cover a larger geographical area. Therefore business offices situated at longer distances can easily communicate.

• Contains devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, etc.
• LLAN connections work using radio transmitters and receivers built into client devices.

Disadvantages of WAN

Here are the drawbacks/cons of the WAN network:

• The initial setup cost of investment is very high.
• It is difficult to maintain the WAN network. You need skilled technicians and network administrators.
• There are more errors and issues because of the wide coverage and the use of different technologies.
• It requires more time to resolve issues because of the involvement of multiple wired and wireless technologies.

What is MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A Metropolitan Area Network or MAN is consisting of a computer network across an entire city, college campus, or a small region. This type of network is large than a LAN, which is mostly limited to a single building or site. Depending upon the type of configuration, this type of network allows you to cover an area from several miles to tens of miles.

Characteristics of MAN

Here are important characteristics of the MAN network:

• It mostly covers towns and cities in a maximum 50 km range
• Mostly used medium is optical fibers, cables
• Data rates are adequate for distributed computing applications.

Advantages of MAN

Here are the pros/benefits of the MAN network:

• It offers fast communication using high-speed carriers, like fiber optic cables.
• It provides excellent support for an extensive size network and greater access to WANs.
• The dual bus in the MAN network provides support to transmit data in both directions concurrently.
• A MAN network mostly includes some areas of a city or an entire city.

Disadvantages of MAN

Here are the drawbacks/cons of using the MAN network:

• You need more cable to establish a MAN connection from one place to another.
• In MAN network it is tough to make the system secure from hackers