1.2.Networks Defined by Geography

Based on the geographic dispersion of network components, networks can be classified into various categories, including the following:

• Local-area network (LAN)

• Wide-area network (WAN)

• Campus-area network (CAN)

• Metropolitan-area network (MAN)

• Personal-area network (PAN)

LAN

• A LAN interconnects network components within a local area (for example, within a building).

• Examples of common LAN technologies you are likely to encounter include :

  • Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)

  • wireless networks (IEEE 802.11)

WAN

A WAN interconnects network components that are geographically separated. For example, a corporate headquarters might have multiple WAN connections to remote office sites.

CAN

Example :

1. university campus

   • The university covered several square miles and had several dozen buildings.

   • Within many of these buildings was a LAN.

   • However, those building-centric LANs were interconnected.

2. industrial park

3. business park

MAN

• More widespread than a CAN and less widespread than a WAN.

• A MAN interconnects locations scattered throughout a metropolitan area.

• One example of a MAN technology is Metro Ethernet.

PAN

• A PAN is a network whose scale is even smaller than a LAN.

• The main distinction of a PAN is that its range is typically limited to just a few meters.

• For example,

  • A connection between a PC and a digital camera via a universal serial bus (USB) cable

  • A PC connected to an external hard drive via a FireWire connection.

  • A Bluetooth connection between your cell phone and your car’s audio system