computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications.

• LAN (Local Area Network)
• PAN (Personal Area Network)
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• WAN (Wide Area Network)

LAN (Local Area Network)

Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small area such as building, office. LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through a communication medium such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc. It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs, network adapters, and ethernet cables. The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area Network. Local Area Network provides higher security.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

PAN is the most basic type of computer network. This network is restrained to a single person, that is, communication between the computer devices is centered only on an individual’s workspace. PAN offers a network range of 1 to 100 meters from person to device providing communication. Its transmission speed is very high with very easy maintenance and very low cost.

MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)

A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger geographic area by interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger network. A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that connects computers within a metropolitan area, which could be a single large city, multiple cities and towns, or any given large area with multiple buildings. A MAN is larger than LAN (local area network) but smaller than a WAN (Wide Area Network). MANs do not have to be in urban areas; the term “metropolitan” implies the size of the network, not the demographics of the area that it serves.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

 wide-area network (WAN) is the technology that connects your offices, data centers, cloud applications, and cloud storage together. It is called a wide-area network because it spans beyond a single building or large campus to include multiple locations spread across a specific geographic area, or even the world. For example, businesses with many international branch offices use a WAN to connect office networks together. The world’s largest WAN is the internet because it is a collection of many international networks that connect to each other. This article focuses on enterprise WANs and their uses and benefit .