LAN, SAN, CAN, WAN, MAN
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
- Definition: A network that connects computers and devices within a limited area, such as a single building or a group of buildings in close proximity.
- Range: Typically up to 100 meters (328 feet) for wired connections using Ethernet cables. Wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) can cover a similar range indoors, extending up to a few hundred meters outdoors.
- Characteristics:
- High Speed: Common data transfer rates range from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
- Low Latency: Minimal delay due to the small geographic area.
- Cost-Effective: Uses inexpensive networking hardware like Ethernet cables and Wi-Fi routers.
- Ease of Setup and Maintenance: Managed locally, often by in-house IT staff.
- Typical Uses: Homes, schools, small to medium-sized businesses for internal communication, file sharing, and internet access.
2. SAN (Storage Area Network)
- Definition: A specialized, high-speed network that connects and provides access to consolidated pools of storage devices.
- Range: Typically spans a small area such as a data center or server room, generally up to a few kilometers, but can be extended over larger distances using technologies like Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP).
- Characteristics:
- High Speed and Performance: Uses technologies like Fibre Channel or iSCSI for fast and reliable storage access.
- Scalability: Can easily expand to accommodate more data and devices.
- Centralized Storage Management: Improves data management and backup processes.
- Reliability and Availability: Designed for high redundancy and fault tolerance.
- Typical Uses: Enterprise environments, data centers, and large organizations requiring high-performance storage.
3. CAN (Campus Area Network)
- Definition: A network that interconnects multiple LANs within a limited geographic area, such as a university campus or large corporate facility.
- Range: Typically covers several kilometers, up to 1-5 kilometers (0.6-3.1 miles).
- Characteristics:
- High Bandwidth: Provides high-speed connectivity between LANs.
- Centralized Management: Allows for consistent security policies and resource sharing.
- Enhanced Security: Better controls compared to WANs.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduces overall networking infrastructure costs.
- Typical Uses: Educational institutions, large corporate environments, and other large campuses for internal communication and resource sharing.
4. WAN (Wide Area Network)
- Definition: A network that spans a large geographic area, connecting multiple smaller networks like LANs and MANs across cities, countries, or continents.
- Range: Covers extensive geographic areas, from several kilometers to thousands of kilometers, potentially across the globe.
- Characteristics:
- Long Distance Connectivity: Uses technologies like MPLS, VPNs, leased lines, and satellite links.
- Varied Speeds: Data transfer speeds can range from a few Mbps to several Gbps.
- Higher Latency: Greater distances lead to higher latency compared to LANs and MANs.
- Complex Infrastructure: Requires more complex and often more expensive infrastructure.
- Typical Uses: Multinational corporations, governments, ISPs for connecting branch offices, data centers, and providing internet connectivity.
5. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
- Definition: A network that spans a city or a large campus, larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN.
- Range: Covers a metropolitan area, typically up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).
- Characteristics:
- Moderate Speed: Offers moderate to high-speed connectivity, often using Ethernet, MPLS, or wireless technologies.
- Medium Latency: Lower latency compared to WANs due to the smaller area.
- Intermediary Network: Bridges the gap between LANs and WANs.
- Cost and Infrastructure: Requires significant infrastructure investment but is generally less complex than WANs.
- Typical Uses: City governments, large companies, and ISPs for network connectivity within a city, facilitating efficient communication and data transfer.
These networks serve different scales and requirements, forming the backbone of modern communication infrastructure.
1. LAN (Local Area Network)
- Definition: A network that connects computers and devices within a limited area, such as a single building or a group of buildings in close proximity.
- Range: Typically up to 100 meters (328 feet) for wired connections using Ethernet cables. Wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) can cover a similar range indoors, extending up to a few hundred meters outdoors.
- Characteristics:
- High Speed: Common data transfer rates range from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
- Low Latency: Minimal delay due to the small geographic area.
- Cost-Effective: Uses inexpensive networking hardware like Ethernet cables and Wi-Fi routers.
- Ease of Setup and Maintenance: Managed locally, often by in-house IT staff.
- Typical Uses: Homes, schools, small to medium-sized businesses for internal communication, file sharing, and internet access.
2. SAN (Storage Area Network)
- Definition: A specialized, high-speed network that connects and provides access to consolidated pools of storage devices.
- Range: Typically spans a small area such as a data center or server room, generally up to a few kilometers, but can be extended over larger distances using technologies like Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP).
- Characteristics:
- High Speed and Performance: Uses technologies like Fibre Channel or iSCSI for fast and reliable storage access.
- Scalability: Can easily expand to accommodate more data and devices.
- Centralized Storage Management: Improves data management and backup processes.
- Reliability and Availability: Designed for high redundancy and fault tolerance.
- Typical Uses: Enterprise environments, data centers, and large organizations requiring high-performance storage.
3. CAN (Campus Area Network)
- Definition: A network that interconnects multiple LANs within a limited geographic area, such as a university campus or large corporate facility.
- Range: Typically covers several kilometers, up to 1-5 kilometers (0.6-3.1 miles).
- Characteristics:
- High Bandwidth: Provides high-speed connectivity between LANs.
- Centralized Management: Allows for consistent security policies and resource sharing.
- Enhanced Security: Better controls compared to WANs.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduces overall networking infrastructure costs.
- Typical Uses: Educational institutions, large corporate environments, and other large campuses for internal communication and resource sharing.
4. WAN (Wide Area Network)
- Definition: A network that spans a large geographic area, connecting multiple smaller networks like LANs and MANs across cities, countries, or continents.
- Range: Covers extensive geographic areas, from several kilometers to thousands of kilometers, potentially across the globe.
- Characteristics:
- Long Distance Connectivity: Uses technologies like MPLS, VPNs, leased lines, and satellite links.
- Varied Speeds: Data transfer speeds can range from a few Mbps to several Gbps.
- Higher Latency: Greater distances lead to higher latency compared to LANs and MANs.
- Complex Infrastructure: Requires more complex and often more expensive infrastructure.
- Typical Uses: Multinational corporations, governments, ISPs for connecting branch offices, data centers, and providing internet connectivity.
5. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
- Definition: A network that spans a city or a large campus, larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN.
- Range: Covers a metropolitan area, typically up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).
- Characteristics:
- Moderate Speed: Offers moderate to high-speed connectivity, often using Ethernet, MPLS, or wireless technologies.
- Medium Latency: Lower latency compared to WANs due to the smaller area.
- Intermediary Network: Bridges the gap between LANs and WANs.
- Cost and Infrastructure: Requires significant infrastructure investment but is generally less complex than WANs.
- Typical Uses: City governments, large companies, and ISPs for network connectivity within a city, facilitating efficient communication and data transfer.
These networks serve different scales and requirements, forming the backbone of modern communication infrastructure.