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Local Area Networks (LANs), Wireless LANs (WLANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Variants (CANs, MANs and PANs)
(Page 2 of 2)
Difficulties in Categorizing Network Classes
As with most other distinctions and
categorizations in the world of networking, the lines between these
various definitions are not very concrete. As I mentioned already, wireless
LANs are usually not entirely wireless, because they contained wired
elements. Similarly, trying to say absolutely when a network is local
and when it is wide is difficult.
It's also somewhat pointless to spend
too much energy on differentiating these network classes precisely.
In some cases it's not the definitions that decide what technology to
use, but rather the technology that indicates what kind of network you
have! Since some protocols are designed for wide area networking, if
you are using them, many would say you have a WAN, even if all the devices
in that technology are near each other. On the other hand, some LAN
technologies allow the use of cables that can run for many miles; most
would still consider a mile-long Ethernet fiber link to be a LAN connection,
even though it may span WAN distances.
There are many dimensions in which
local and wide area networking technologies differ; two of the most
important are cost and performance. It's easy to establish
a high-speed conduit for data between two systems that are in the same
room; much more difficult if the two are in different states. This means
that in the world of WAN, one either pays a lot more or gets a lot less
throughputand often both.
"Intermediate" Network Types
The blurry line between LAN and WAN
is becoming more muddled every years. One reason is the emergence of
intermediate network types that straddle the line between
these more familiar terms.
- Campus Area Networks (CANs): A campus
area network (CAN) is one created to span multiple buildings in
the same location, such as the campus of a university. Campus area networking
is a gray area, since neither LANs nor WANs alone are always
well-suited for this type of application. Often, a mix of LAN and WAN
techniques are used for campus networking, depending on the characteristics
of the campus and the needs of the organization.
- Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs): Another
intermediate term that you may see sometimes is the metropolitan
area network or MAN. As the name implies, this refers to
a network that spans a particular small region or a city. Metropolitan
area networks can be considered either as small WANs that
cover a limited geographical area, or as large LANs that
cover an area greater than that normally associated with a local network.
Wireless metropolitan area networks are of course sometimes called WMANs;
IEEE 802.16 is an example of a WMAN standard.
Personal Area Networks (PANs)
Finally, there is one other term
occasionally used that should be mentioned: the personal area network
(PAN). This type of network generally means a very small LAN with
a range of only a few feet, intended mostly to connect together devices
used by a single person (or very small group). The term is most commonly
used in reference to Bluetooth / IEEE 802.15 wireless technology, so
you will sometimes see the terms wireless personal area network (WPAN)
and just PAN used interchangeably.
Key Concept: Networks are often divided by size and general communication method into three classes. Local area networks (LANs) generally connect together proximate devices, usually using cables. Wireless LANs (WLANs) are like cabled LANs but use radio frequency or light technology to connect devices without wires. Wide area networks (WANs) connect distant devices or LANs to each other. Campus area networks (CANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs) fall between LANs and WANs in terms of overall size; personal area networks (PANs) are like very small LANs and often appear as wireless PANs (WPANs). |
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Version 3.0 - Version Date: September 20, 2005
© Copyright 2001-2005 Charles M. Kozierok. All Rights Reserved.
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