Computer Networks and Types

Computer Networking and its types

Meaning of Computer network

In simple term computer network is a collection of two or more computers. It is a collection of interconnected computers and other devices such as computers, server, routers etc that exchange data and other important resources with each other. These networks enables the communication between  nodes to share the data, files and other resources. It uses some set of rules to communication between the devices called network protocols.

Types of computer networks

1) LOCAL AREA NETWORK

 Local area network cover relatively small geographical area such as buildings, home,office etc. LAN can go up to 2km distance. It facilitates to communication between the devices that are in close physical proximity. LAN may be made up of only micro computers or combination of micro computers and large systems. These networks are operates in small area that supports the activities such as Internet access, file sharing and local hosting. 

The number of computers in a Local Area Network (LAN) can vary widely depending on the specific network setup and requirements. LANs can range from small networks with just a few devices 2-25 computers to large  networks with hundreds or even thousands of computers. There is no fixed limit to the number of computers that can be connected in a LAN, it depends on factors like network infrastructure, available IP addresses, and network equipment's capacity.

Advantages of LAN

1) Local area network offers high speed data transfer facility to rapid sharing of data files and resources between connected devices.

2)Easy to set up

3) Since it reduce the cost of individual internet connections for each devices LAN can be cost effective.

4) Easy to share the data between devices

Disadvantages of LAN

1)LAN have a limited coverage area, it connects within a building,office or home.

2)High maintenance costs.

3)It is challenging to expand the LANs to connect more devices.

2) WIDE AREA NETWORK

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that connects the large geographical area, connecting multiple Local Area Networks (LANs) or other networks across cities, regions, countries, or even continents. WANs can use a combination of public and private infrastructure. Public networks include the internet, while private networks may involve leased lines, MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), or VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).

Advantages of WAN

1)WAN can covers large geographical area.

2)IT system can be centralized.

3) Message can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network.

4)WANs can helps to expand the market by connecting with customers of different regions.

Disadvantages of WANs

1)WANs are often more complex to design, configure, and manage compared to Local Area Networks (LANs).

2)Due to large geographical coverage maintenance of WANs can be more challenging

3)Data transmission over long distances can causes delay in communication which creates problem in operation of real-time applications like video conferencing or online gaming.

4)It is slow in speed

3) METROPOLITAN AREA

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network that covers a larger geographical area than a Local Area Network (LAN) but is smaller than a Wide Area Network (WAN).MAN has moderate geological coverage which can expand up to 50km distance. 

MAN can designed for customers who needs high speed connectivity.MANs can establish point-to-point connections between specific locations within the metropolitan area, connecting individual sites such as corporate offices, data centers, and educational institutions. They can also support point-to-multipoint connections to serve multiple locations from a central hub.

Best example for MAN Networking are T.v cable network, DSL line, IUB network etc.

Advantages of MANs

1)MANs have a greater coverage

2) High bandwidth capacity

3) Provides more security to data 

4)Dual bus used in MAN helps the transmission of the data in both directions simultaneously

Disadvantages

1)Maintenance of MAN infrastructure can be expensive

2)MAN can be more complex in nature than LAN and WAN

3)Requires more expertise staff for maintenance

4) PERSONAL AREA NETWORK

A personal area network or PAN is a computer network which is designed for short range coverage which provides the connection around individual person within a single building.

Common uses of PANs include connecting a smartphone to wireless earbuds, linking a laptop to a wireless mouse and keyboard, or establishing a direct connection etc.

NETWORK TOPOLOGY AND ITS TYPES

Network topology refers to physical and logical representation of nodes and connections in a computer. network topologies are divide into two types 

1) Physical topology

2) Logical topology

1) Physical topology: It is a physical layout of nodes,work stations and cables in the network system and logical topology deals with data flow in the network. Following are some common types of Physical topology.

1)Star Topology: In a star topology, each device are connected individually to a central point like hub or switch. All the computers in the system are communicate with each other through main server.  common example of star topology is local area network where all computers connected to central point.

2)Bus Topology: In bus topology all the computers or nodes  are connected to a single coaxical cable known as a bus or backbone, here data is transmitted in both directions via bus.It is also called as line topology, where each device connected to central bus is called host and host on bus network is called station.

3)Ring Topology: Ring topology involves connecting devices in a circular manner, where each device is connected to exactly two other devices. Data can reaches its destination by circulate around the ring. It is less common in physical networks due to its complexity.

4)Mesh Topology: In mesh topology every devices are directly connected to with each other without central point like hubs or switches.In this system data transmitted through two techniques i.e routing and flooding. Mesh topology is widely used in WANs, LANs and wireless networks.

5)Tree Topology: Tree topology combines elements of star and bus topologies. Multiple star-configured networks are connected to a linear bus backbone. This layout is suitable for larger networks with hierarchical structures.

6)Hybrid Topology: Hybrid topologies combine two or more different physical topologies to meet specific network requirements. For instance, a network might have a core section in a star topology while using a mesh topology for redundancy at the edges.

The choice of network topology depends on factors such as network size, scalability, fault tolerance, cost, and performance requirements. Many networks use a combination of topologies to optimize their functionality.