Types Of Networks - LAN, WAN, MAN, VAN, etc.:

LAN:

A LAN (Local Area Network) 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. In addition to operating in a limited space, LANs are also typically owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization.

WAN:

As the term implies, a WAN (Wide Area Network) spans a large physical distance. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth. A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. A network device called a router connects LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address.

MAN:

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is a larger area than that of a LAN and smaller area as compared to WAN. It connects two or more computers that are apart but resides in the same or different cities. It covers a large geographical area and may serve as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). MAN is designed for customers who need a high-speed connectivity. Speeds of MAN ranges in terms of Mbps. It’s hard to design and maintain a Metropolitan Area Network.

VAN:

VAN (Value-Added Network) is a communication channel leased from a telephone company to offer customers with modems access to network services through a local or toll-free number.

Backbone:

It is a high-speed network that connects various LAN segments. these LANs should be interconnected with a backbone, each pair of LAN segments can communicate without passing through a third-party LAN segment.

CANs:

(Campus Area Networks) The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.

HANs:

(Home Area Networks) It is a network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices.

Wireless/Mobile Networks:

Wireless Communication - In these networks, transmission media includes includes infrared light, radio channels, microwave radio, cellular telephone systems and satellite relays. Here, the transmission rates vary with the media, from under 1 Mbit/sec up to Gbit/sec range for satellite relays.

Other types of Computer Networks:

• PAN (Personal Area Network)
• SAN (Storage Area Network)
• EPN (Enterprise Private Network)
• VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• POLAN (Passive Optical Local Area Network)
• SAN (System Area Network / Storage Area Network)