P1
Types of network
LAN: Local-area network. Most LANs remain in a building, or a group of buildings. LANs can connect
to other LANs via radio waves and telephone lines. When LANs are connected in this way, it is called
a wide-area network (WAN). LANs usually connect the workstatons together.
WAN: This is a wide area network, it covers a large geographical area. Most of these WANs are made
from LANs when they are connected together.
MAN: This a Metropolitan Area Network and is a large computer network. It spans a metropolitan
area. MANs can provide internet connectvity for LANs in a metropolitan region.
PAN: A personal area network, this is a computer network which is used for data transmission. This is
used for computers and phones.
Network topologies
BUS
This is a network topology where nodes are connected by one cable by a linear sequence of buses.
Bus networks are also useful small network. If any segment of a bus network fails, all its
transmissions follow. However, this type of network is usually reliable, it is simple and the network is
also quite easy to expand and nodes for additonal networking can be added along the bus at any
place. Because of cable loss, the length of the bus is limited and it may also not work well if the
nodes are at scatered points that are not next to a common line.
RING
A ring network is a network topology where each node in the network connects to only two other
nodes. This forms a contnuous pathway for signals. This is basically a loop confguraton and is set
up to be closed. If this ring network breaks (cable) the data speed between workstatons will
decrease. When you require system reliability and stability, a bus or star network may be a beter
opton. The transmission of a Ring Network is simple and travels in only one directon, there won’t
be data collisions and more computers can be added to this network easily without it having a large
impact on general performance. However, this process requires you to shut down the network, this
may not be practcal in situatons.
Types of network
LAN: Local-area network. Most LANs remain in a building, or a group of buildings. LANs can connect
to other LANs via radio waves and telephone lines. When LANs are connected in this way, it is called
a wide-area network (WAN). LANs usually connect the workstatons together.
WAN: This is a wide area network, it covers a large geographical area. Most of these WANs are made
from LANs when they are connected together.
MAN: This a Metropolitan Area Network and is a large computer network. It spans a metropolitan
area. MANs can provide internet connectvity for LANs in a metropolitan region.
PAN: A personal area network, this is a computer network which is used for data transmission. This is
used for computers and phones.
Network topologies
BUS
This is a network topology where nodes are connected by one cable by a linear sequence of buses.
Bus networks are also useful small network. If any segment of a bus network fails, all its
transmissions follow. However, this type of network is usually reliable, it is simple and the network is
also quite easy to expand and nodes for additonal networking can be added along the bus at any
place. Because of cable loss, the length of the bus is limited and it may also not work well if the
nodes are at scatered points that are not next to a common line.
RING
A ring network is a network topology where each node in the network connects to only two other
nodes. This forms a contnuous pathway for signals. This is basically a loop confguraton and is set
up to be closed. If this ring network breaks (cable) the data speed between workstatons will
decrease. When you require system reliability and stability, a bus or star network may be a beter
opton. The transmission of a Ring Network is simple and travels in only one directon, there won’t
be data collisions and more computers can be added to this network easily without it having a large
impact on general performance. However, this process requires you to shut down the network, this
may not be practcal in situatons.
