Types of Computer Networks?

Types of Computer Networks: - In this Article we will discuss In 2021 which types of Computer Networks are using. List are: 1-Personal Area Network (PAN), 2-Local Area Network (LAN), 3-Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN), 4-Campus Area Network (CAN), 5-Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), 6-Wide Area Network (WAN), 7-Storage Area Network (SAN), 8-Virtual Private Network (VPN), 9-Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN), 10-Enterprise Private Network (EPN).

A Computer Network is a group of two or more interconnected computer systems that use common connection protocols for sharing various resources and files. You can establish a computer network connection using either cable or wireless media. Every network involves hardware and software that connects computers and tools.

There are different types of computer network that can be used for sharing data, resources and applications. Computer networks are generally distinguished based on their size as well as their functions. Some computer networks are wired and some are wireless.

Wireless networks are such types of computer network that do not require cable. In this article, we have covered all types of computer networks including their definitions and characteristics.

TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK

A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications. There are different types of Computer Networks are as follows:

Personal Area Network (PAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN)
Campus Area Network (CAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Storage Area Network (SAN)
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)
Enterprise Private Network (EPN)

1. Personal Area Network (PAN)

The smallest and most basic type of network, a PAN is made up of a wireless modem, a computer or two, phones, printers, tablets, etc., and revolves around one person in one building.

This type of network is typically found in small offices or residences, and are managed by one person or organization from a single device.

Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an individual person, typically within a range of 10 meters.
Personal Area Network is used for connecting the computer devices of personal use is known as Personal Area Network.
Thomas Zimmerman was the first research scientist to bring the idea of the Personal Area Network.
Personal Area Network covers an area of 30 feet.
Personal computer devices that are used to develop the personal area network are the laptop, mobile phones, media player and play stations.

There are two types of Personal Area Network:

Wired Personal Area Network
Wireless Personal Area Network

Wired Personal Area Network: Wired Personal Area Network is created by using the USB.

Wireless Personal Area Network: Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by simply using wireless technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth. It is a low range network.

Examples Of Personal Area Network

Body Area Network: Body Area Network is a network that moves with a person. For example, a mobile network moves with a person. Suppose a person establishes a network connection and then creates a connection with another device to share the information.
Offline Network: An offline network can be created inside the home, so it is also known as a home network. A home network is designed to integrate the devices such as printers, computer, television but they are not connected to the internet.
Small Home Office: It is used to connect a variety of devices to the internet and to a corporate network using a VPN.

Advantages of Personal Area Network

Data can be synchronized between different devices.
It is secure.
Connect to any devices at a time.
It is easy to use.
It is used in offices, conferences, and meetings.
No extra space requires.
Affordable cost.
It is portable.
In PAN no extra space requires.
No need for extra cable and wire.
It used in the TV remote, AC remotes, etc.
It is reliable.

Disadvantages of Personal Area Network

PAN uses microwave signals in some digital devices which have and effect on the human body like rain and heart problems may occur.
It can be operated in less range of areas.
It is a slow data transfer.
Infrared signal travel only in a straight line.
It can only be used for the personal area.
The device with inbuilt WPAN is more expensive.
TV remote use infrared signals which have a problem that they travel in a straight line. So this count other disadvantages of PAN.
It interfaces with radio signals.
PAN has a limited range.
Devices are not compatible with each other.

2. Local Area Network (LAN)

We’re confident that you’ve heard of these types of networks before – LANs are the most frequently discussed networks, one of the most common, one of the most original and one of the simplest types of networks.

LANs connect groups of computers and low-voltage devices together across short distances (within a building or between a group of two or three buildings in close proximity to each other) to share information and resources. Enterprises typically manage and maintain LANs.

Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small area such as building, office.
LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through a communication medium such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.
It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs, network adapters, and ethernet cables.
The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area Network.
Local Area Network provides higher security.
Using routers, LANs can connect to wide area networks (WANs, explained below) to rapidly and safely transfer data.

Advantages of Local Area Network

Simple and relatively inexpensive:- The primary benefit of a local area network is that this is quick and easy to set up and reasonably priced when contrasted to other alternatives; consequently, if an organization intends to build a network at a minimal price and with flexibility, a local area network is the ultimate answer.
Collaboration of Resources:- Expensive components such as printers and scanners cannot be linked to every desktop since it will indeed be very burdensome for the company, but thanks to local area networks, a corporation only clearly need one printer and scanner, and everybody can link to that printer and scanner and sends instruction from their machines, leading in meaningful cost savings for the corporation.
The association involving client and server:- All information from connected PCs may be maintained on a single server. If a machine (Client) demands information, the client may effortlessly log in and retrieve the information from the system. Films and albums, for instance, can be maintained on the server and retrieved by any approved user (Client computer).
Accessing of software programs:- On the LAN, software programs may also be shared. You can incorporate a single licensed program that can be used by any device on a network. It is pricey to buy a license for each device on a network, consequently sharing software is simple and straightforward, and cost-effective.
Data protection:- It is more safe and secure to keep information on the server. And if you wish to update or eliminate any data, you may do so rapidly on a single server computer, and other devices will be able to obtain the new information. You may very well grant or deny access to particular users, guaranteeing that only approved users have accessibility to the network’s data.
Fast communication:- LAN-connected systems or devices communicate directly at very high rates of speed, based on the LAN model and ethernet cabling installed. The most prevalent enabled speeds are 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1000 Mbps. Technologies of gigabit ethernet are quickly developing. Once the technology becomes more sophisticated and large-scale production has commenced, lower-cost variants will be accessible to the public.

Dis-advantages of Local Area Network

The information security issue that arises:- Unapproved users can retrieve data if the server equipment is not programmed correctly and there is a technical glitch. As a consequence, the server’s privacy policy and procedures must be effectively managed.
Long-distance major limitation:- Local area networks are often devised within a building or apartment complex and cannot be stretched to a bigger area.
All devices may be disproportionately affected if the server fails:- If a file on the server gets heavily damaged or a hard disc crashes, all of the linked PCs will have extreme difficulty operating correctly.
Installing a LAN is difficult and expensive:- It is expensive to establish a LAN since specialized software is essential to install a server. Additionally, communication hardware such as hubs, switches, routers, and cables are expensive to buy. A large office’s LAN must be administered and troubleshot by a professional operator.
Data Sharing via Outside Sources:- Another drawback of LAN is that it is difficult and time-consuming to send files from outside the network since transportable media such as pen drives and CDs cannot be conveniently performed on all devices on the network.

3. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

Stands for “Wireless Local Area Network” A WLAN, or wireless LAN, is a network that allows devices to connect and communicate wirelessly. Unlike a traditional wired LAN, in which devices communicate over Ethernet cables, devices on a WLAN communicate via Wi-Fi.

While a WLAN may look different than a traditional LAN, it functions the same way. New devices are typically added and configured using DHCP. They can communicate with other devices on the network the same way they would on a wired network. The primary difference is how the data is transmitted. In a LAN, data is transmitted over physical cables in a series of Ethernet packets. In a WLAN, packets are transmitted over the air.

Functioning like a LAN, WLANs make use of wireless network technology, such as Wi-Fi. Typically seen in the same types of applications as LANs, these types of networks don’t require that devices rely on physical cables to connect to the network.

Note: LANs and WLANs can be merged together using a bridge that connects the two networks. Wireless routers that include Ethernet ports can automatically combine wired and wireless devices into the same network.

Advantages of Wireless Local Area Network

The most obvious advantage of a WLAN is that devices can connect wirelessly, eliminating the need for cables.
This allows homes and businesses to create local networks without wiring the building with Ethernet.
It also provides a way for small devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to connect to the network.
WLANs are not limited by the number of physical ports on the router and therefore can support dozens or even hundreds of devices.
The range of a WLAN can easily be extended by adding one or more repeaters.
Finally, a WLAN can be easily upgraded by replacing routers with new versions.
A much easier and cheaper solution than upgrading old Ethernet cables.

Disadvantages of Wireless Local Area Network

Wireless networks are naturally less secure than wired networks.
Any wireless device can attempt to connect to a WLAN, so it is important to limit access to the network if security is a concern.
This is typically done using wireless authentication such as WEP or WPA, which encrypts the communication.
Additionally, wireless networks are more susceptible to interference from other signals or physical barriers, such as concrete walls. Since LANs offer the highest performance and security, they are still used for many corporate and government networks.

NOTE: WLAN should not be confused with “WAN,” which is a wide area network.

4. Campus Area Network (CAN)

Larger than LANs, but smaller than metropolitan area networks (MANs, explained below), these types of networks are typically seen in universities, large K-12 school districts or small businesses

They can be spread across several buildings that are fairly close to each other so users can share resources.

A campus area network (CAN) is a computer network that spans a limited geographic area. CANs interconnect multiple local area networks (LAN) within an educational or corporate campus. Most CANs connect to the public Internet.

CANs are smaller than metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN), which stretch over large geographic areas. Typically, the organization that owns the campus also owns and operates all the networking equipment and infrastructure for the CAN. In contrast, MANs and WANs may combine infrastructure operated by several different providers.

Advantages of Campus Area Network

A CAN is typically managed fully by an internal IT team, giving that team a high degree of control over the network.
IT teams can apply security policies across the network far more easily than if the campus used multiple disconnected networks. For instance, IT may install and manage firewalls to protect the data within the CAN.
IT can also manage access to the network by setting login requirements, blocking unsafe devices, and setting up other access control safeguards.
CAN is economical in the sense that it uses fewer cables, switches, hubs and routers.
In CAN, the message is sent one time and is transferred to all the linked departments easily.
CAN use a wireless connection for connecting different departments and buildings across one organization.
In CAN, files are transferred with high speed over the network (internet).
One ISP across all departments:- In CAN, the internet is used from the same ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Dis-advantages of Campus Area Network

Limitation for connecting nodes:- The connection between nodes (computers) is limited in size i.e. you cannot connect a large number of nodes together in CAN. And also CAN have a maximum length of 40 meters.
Maintenance is expensive:- Troubleshooting and maintenance of CAN are expensive as compared to other networks.

5. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

This type of network is larger than LANs but smaller than WANs – and incorporate elements from both types of networks.

MANs span an entire geographic area (typically a town or city, but sometimes a campus).

Ownership and maintenance is handled by either a single person or company (a local council, a large company, etc.)

A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger geographic area by interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger network.
Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.
In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a telephone exchange line.
The most widely used protocols in MAN are RS-232, Frame Relay, ATM, ISDN, OC-3, ADSL, etc.
It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN).

Uses Of Metropolitan Area Network

MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.
It can be used in an Airline Reservation.
It can be used in a college within a city.
It can also be used for communication in the military.

6. Wide Area Network (WAN)

Slightly more complex than a LAN, a WAN connects computers together across longer physical distances. This allows computers and low-voltage devices to be remotely connected to each other over one large network to communicate even when they’re miles apart.

The Internet is the most basic example of a WAN, connecting all computers together around the world. Because of a WAN’s vast reach, it is typically owned and maintained by multiple administrators or the public.

A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area such as states or countries.
A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.
A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large geographical area through a telephone line, fiber optic cable or satellite links.
The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education.

Examples Of Wide Area Network:

Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region or country.
Last mile: A telecom company is used to provide the internet services to the customers in hundreds of cities by connecting their home with fiber.
Private network: A bank provides a private network that connects the 44 offices. This network is made by using the telephone leased line provided by the telecom company.

Advantages Of Wide Area Network:

Geographical area: A Wide Area Network provides a large geographical area. Suppose if the branch of our office is in a different city then we can connect with them through WAN. The internet provides a leased line through which we can connect with another branch.
Centralized data: In case of WAN network, data is centralized. Therefore, we do not need to buy the emails, files or back up servers.
Get updated files: Software companies work on the live server. Therefore, the programmers get the updated files within seconds.
Exchange messages: In a WAN network, messages are transmitted fast. The web application like Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype allows you to communicate with friends.
Sharing of software and resources: In WAN network, we can share the software and other resources like a hard drive, RAM.
Global business: We can do the business over the internet globally.
High bandwidth: If we use the leased lines for our company then this gives the high bandwidth. The high bandwidth increases the data transfer rate which in turn increases the productivity of our company.

Disadvantages of Wide Area Network:

Security issue: A WAN network has more security issues as compared to LAN and MAN network as all the technologies are combined together that creates the security problem.
Needs Firewall & antivirus software: The data is transferred on the internet which can be changed or hacked by the hackers, so the firewall needs to be used. Some people can inject the virus in our system so antivirus is needed to protect from such a virus.
High Setup cost: An installation cost of the WAN network is high as it involves the purchasing of routers, switches.
Troubleshooting problems: It covers a large area so fixing the problem is difficult.

7. Storage-Area Network (SAN)

As a dedicated high-speed network that connects shared pools of storage devices to several servers, these types of networks don’t rely on a LAN or WAN. Instead, they move storage resources away from the network and place them into their own high-performance network.

SANs can be accessed in the same fashion as a drive attached to a server. Types of storage-area networks include converged, virtual and unified SANs.

A Storage Area Network is a dedicated, independent high-speed network that interconnects and delivers shared pools of storage devices to multiple servers. Each server can access shared storage as if it were a drive directly attached to the server.

A SAN is typically assembled with cabling, host bus adapters, and SAN switches attached to storage arrays and servers. Each switch and storage system on the SAN must be interconnected.

Advantages of Storage Area Network

By integrating storage devices, SAN increases storage space usability and cost efficiency.
SAN increases the network bandwidth and reliability of data I/O.
Simplified storage administration.
Disk mirroring
Low cost of storage management
Instant and real-time information
SAN is separated from the regular network system and has an ability to expand the storage capacity.
SAN reduces storage management cost since it simplifies the system fabric and devices management.
Ability to boot itself and expand the storage capacity
Hundreds of terabytes of data can be stored using any number of storage devices.
SAN is not directly attached to any particular server or network, SAN can be shared by all.

Disadvantages of Storage Area Network

If client computers need intensive data transfer then
SAN is not the right choice. SAN is good for low data traffic.
More expensive.
It is very hard to maintain.
As all client computers share the same set of storage devices so sensitive data can be leaked. It is preferable not to store confidential information on this network.
Poor implementation results in a performance bottleneck.
It’s difficult to keep a data backup in case of a system failure.
Not affordable for small business.
Require a high-level technical person.

8. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

By extending a private network across the Internet, a VPN lets its users send and receive data as if their devices were connected to the private network – even if they’re not. Through a virtual point-to-point connection, users can access a private network remotely.

A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that creates a safe, encrypted online connection. Internet users may use a VPN to give themselves more privacy and anonymity online or circumvent geographic-based blocking and censorship.

VPNs essentially extend a private network across a public network, which should allow a user to securely send and receive data across the internet.

Advantages of Virtual Private Network

Bypass Geo-Restrictions:- Geo-Restrictions are a method of content control where the content providers choose what kind of users get to access their platforms. This control is done based on the geographical location of that user. It is possible for these platforms to see your geographical area because of your IP address. The way a VPN works is it hides your real IP address. So, deploying a VPN will, as a result, hide your real geographical address. Thus, letting you access various platforms without restrictions.
Increased Online Privacy:- When you’re not using a VPN, any website you visit can see your real IP address. To the people who might not realize why this is a big deal; an IP address can reveal a lot about you which can be used against you. An IP address can reveal what country you’re in, your city, your ISP and even your zip code. When you surf the internet, you leave a footprint. ISPs can track this and sell that data to advertisers for them to create an accurate customer profile. They then target you with ads according to this footprint. With a VPN, your real IP address is hidden, freeing you from all this danger.
Free from Online Censorship:- In some countries, the government imposes a ban against certain online services and websites. The Great Firewall of China is one example; it prohibits access to several applications and websites throughout the country. You can use a VPN that gives you a US based IP; meaning your fake IP will belong to the USA so China’s prohibition rules won’t apply to you and you can browse the web without any restrictions. This also applies to any restrictions your ISP imposes.
Safer Torren ting:- When you are downloading Torrents, yes it is very convenient but it also poses some threats. The total number of people that download and upload a torrent is called a Swarm. All of these people can see your real IP address when you are on that torrent. Not only can it reveal everything about you, some ISPs and governments also prohibit downloading torrents. If they catch you doing this, they have the right to report you to the authorities. Who wants all that unnecessary trouble? A VPN will protect you from all this hassle by simply hiding your real IP address.
Network Scalability:- First off, network scalability is the measure of how easily a network can add or remove devices that are on that network. A private network is basically a network that assigns its private IPs to the devices on that network. This kind of network is preferred by a lot of companies. The budget required to create a private network is huge. A VPN reduces this cost and the problem of scalability just by making use of the public network. Its use is even more significant for international connections.

Dis-Advantages of Virtual Private Network

Illegal:- There are some countries that consider a private network, illegal like Uganda and Turkey. Some other countries are also working to ban the use of VPNs. So, before you decide to buy a VPN service, make sure your country isn’t one of the countries that want to ban VPN. Using it despite the ban might result in you having to pay a heavy fine.
Decreased Performance:- When you use a VPN, what it does is it connects your network to a private server before letting you access a website. The problem with this is the private server might not respond right away to your request for a private network. What this means to you is that the website you are trying to access will take longer to load.
Monitoring by the Service:- Yes, the whole point of getting a VPN is to avoid all the unnecessary monitoring and tracking online. But, even then some VPN services do monitor and track your data. It doesn’t mean that their intentions are malicious all the time, but it is a possibility. There is also a chance that the service will not tell you that they’ll be monitoring you. This is the case with free VPNs or the ones that cost much less than other standard VPN services. So, that is another thing to keep in mind before paying for or downloading such a service.
Unable to Bypass 100%:- The biggest reason why VPNs are so popular is because it allows access to services and websites that might have been inaccessible in that geographic area. It is easier with a VPN to access those websites but even VPNs cannot allow access to certain sites. Hulu is an example of such a site. You can only access it if you live in the USA and a person from say, Nepal, cannot access it even with the use of a VPN. This is because of the agreement they have with content producers. They have to abide by it and ban it from certain areas.
Increased Cost:- As mentioned before, some VPNs monitor your online activity. Some of these free services also do not work as intended, leaking your private internet information. A good Virtual Private Network requires payment which can be up to $100 every year. This is not a lot for big companies but for someone to use it at home, this might be a large amount to be spent.

9. Passive Optical Local Area Network (POLAN)

As an alternative to traditional switch-based Ethernet LANs, POLAN technology can be integrated into structured cabling to overcome concerns about supporting traditional Ethernet protocols and network applications such as PoE (Power over Ethernet).

A point-to-multipoint LAN architecture, POLAN uses optical splitters to split an optical signal from one strand of single mode optical fiber into multiple signals to serve users and devices.

10. Enterprise Private Network (EPN)

This type of network is built and owned by businesses that want to securely connect its various locations to share computer resources.

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Types of Computer Networks?

TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK

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