Computer Networks
Networks and their types
Classify a network as PAN, LAN, MAN or WAN.
A computer network links two or more computing devices, called nodes, so that they can share data and resources such as files, printers and an Internet connection. Data travels across a network in small pieces called packets.
Networking grew step by step:
- 1969: ARPANET, the first network, linked computers at two American universities, UCLA and SRI.
- Then came the TCP/IP rules for communication, e-mail (Roy Tomlinson), the Domain Name System (DNS), and NSFNET.
- 1990: the World Wide Web.
- 1997: Wi-Fi.
Networks are classified by the area they cover:
| Type | Covers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| PAN (personal area network) | the devices of one person, within about 10 m | a phone linked to earphones by Bluetooth, or to a laptop by USB |
| LAN (local area network) | a room, building or campus, up to about 1 km | a school's computer lab; speeds from 10 Mbps (Ethernet) to 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) |
| MAN (metropolitan area network) | a city, about 30-40 km | cable TV broadband in a city |
| WAN (wide area network) | countries and continents | the Internet, the largest WAN of all |
The area covered decides the type of network.
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