Types of Networks

A LAN network is a Local Area Network.

Most people use a LAN network at home or school because it is useful for sharing resources like files, printer, games or other applications.

Most local area networks are built up with inexpensive equipment like Ethernet cables, network adapters and hubs. You can also add advance hardware to your local area network. The transmission speed can vary

from 10/100/1000mbp/s. setting up a LAN network is not usually expensive, not unless it is a big network with expensive equipment. With home networks, all you would need is a router/switch and a cable modem.

PAN networks

PAN networks ( Personal Area Networks) connect 2+ devices to one specific person.

PAN networks typically run on Bluetooth or infrared.

The transmission speed in a PAN network is about 700kbs

WAN networks

WAN (wireless area network) Or (Wide area network) There are thousands of WAN networks all over the world that join

up to the internet.

WAN speeds can vary from 1.2kb/s to 30mgb/s by DSL cable modem.

The transmission media that is normally used is node, telephone lines, coax cable, shielded twisted pair, unshielded

twisted pair, CAT cable and fibre optics.

You can use Ethernet or wireless technologies in a WAN network.

The cost to build a WAN network will be higher than a LAN network because with a LAN network you can add expensive

add-ons.

Internet

The transmission media for The Internet can be through Satellite, Ethernet connection, Fibre optics, Microwaves and Radio waves .

The speed of the internet connection can vary on who your service provider is. The normal connection speeds are 10mb, 20mb, 30mb, 50mb and 100mb.

The cost can vary

LAN networks

Star typologies are one of the most common computer topologies and are also one of

the simplest typologies that have a switch or hub in it.

Better performance because of the high-powered hub that is normally in star typologies.

It is easy to setup, detects faults and to remove parts.

Also there are no disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices.

The disadvantages of a Star Network is that there is a high dependence of the hub in a

star network.

Also if the hub goes down, then everyone else on the network will not

sent or receive anything.

Star topology Bus topology

In local area networks, bus topologies are used and each node is con-

nected to a single cable.

Each computer or server is connected to each other using a single bus

cable.

Bus topology is inexpensive because it only consists of one wire; but

there is a high cost of managing the networks.

Tree

A tree network is a combination if the bus

and Star Topology.

The tree structure allows to have many serv-

ers on a network and you can also branch out

the network in many ways.

This is helpful in collages, universities and

schools.

Ring

A ring network is very simple because it

is a continuous loop in a circle.

Each device acts like a repeater to keep

the signal strong.

Each device also is a receiver for the in-

coming signal and then passes it on to

the next device.

Mesh

Fully connected mesh and Partially connected mesh

Fully connected:

Mesh can also be called ‘Fully connected’ Because every node is not connect-

ed to just 2 other nodes.

Its also connected to all of the other nodes. This is a good thing because if one

line goes down, then they are also connected to another node so that the

computer or server will never go down.

Partially connected:

There is also another type of mesh which is a ‘Partially connected mesh’. In

this some of the nodes are connected to more than one but some others are

not. This makes it possible to take advantage of some of the redundancy that

is provided by a physical fully connected mesh topology without the expense

and complexity.

Mesh

Topologies