P1- Describe the types of networks available and how they relate
to particular network standards and protocols.
Types of network:
Local area network (LAN) - The local area network is normally a wired network, typically through
Ethernet cables however other networking cabling can be used. What makes this special is it’s normally
operated in a small area such as school, offices, factories, colleges so this also makes things easier for
users to share information as the Ethernet cables have faster transfer speed of up to 100 GB per second
and for this a server is usually used to store and transfer data however there is a limit to how computers
can be attached to a single LAN Connection. Also unlike WLAN Networks you get a strong connection
between the computer and server. Normally for this to operate on a computer a network card is
needed and a driver install in the operating system.
Wide area network (WAN) - A Wide area network is the opposite of a LAN and is normally operated in a
larger geographical scale so they normally span over larger areas such as countries, regions or even the
world. Normally smaller LANS are put together to form this one big WAN but this is wired through
telephone wiring, leased lines or even satellites. You can view WANs as computer networking
technologies used to transmit data over long distances. For example the internet can be described as
one large WAN Network.
Personal Area Network (PAN) – Personal area network is the smallest type of network you can get and is
normally for communication with personal devices. This can also be wired with cables (such as USB and
FireWire) or wireless (over a smaller range usually within 10 meters and normally possible with
Bluetooth). These networks are normally for transferring smaller files such as email, calendar and digital
photos. So it’s basically like a LAN Network but only supporting one person. The devices that can be
connected could include Laptops, PDA’s, cell phones, Desktop Computers, Printers etc. However PAN
Networks can also be used to also connect higher level network such as LAN or WAN.
to particular network standards and protocols.
Types of network:
Local area network (LAN) - The local area network is normally a wired network, typically through
Ethernet cables however other networking cabling can be used. What makes this special is it’s normally
operated in a small area such as school, offices, factories, colleges so this also makes things easier for
users to share information as the Ethernet cables have faster transfer speed of up to 100 GB per second
and for this a server is usually used to store and transfer data however there is a limit to how computers
can be attached to a single LAN Connection. Also unlike WLAN Networks you get a strong connection
between the computer and server. Normally for this to operate on a computer a network card is
needed and a driver install in the operating system.
Wide area network (WAN) - A Wide area network is the opposite of a LAN and is normally operated in a
larger geographical scale so they normally span over larger areas such as countries, regions or even the
world. Normally smaller LANS are put together to form this one big WAN but this is wired through
telephone wiring, leased lines or even satellites. You can view WANs as computer networking
technologies used to transmit data over long distances. For example the internet can be described as
one large WAN Network.
Personal Area Network (PAN) – Personal area network is the smallest type of network you can get and is
normally for communication with personal devices. This can also be wired with cables (such as USB and
FireWire) or wireless (over a smaller range usually within 10 meters and normally possible with
Bluetooth). These networks are normally for transferring smaller files such as email, calendar and digital
photos. So it’s basically like a LAN Network but only supporting one person. The devices that can be
connected could include Laptops, PDA’s, cell phones, Desktop Computers, Printers etc. However PAN
Networks can also be used to also connect higher level network such as LAN or WAN.
