Kelvin Mabasa

BSIT 4 – 1

ACTIVITY

1. What are the different types of Computer Networks?

 LAN (Local Area Network)

 PAN (Personal Area Network)
 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
 WAN (Wide Area Network)
 WLAN (Wireless Area Network)
 CAN (Campus Area Network)

2. How do you recognize the type of network that is used?

 PAN – the smallest and most basic type of network, a PAN is made up of a wireless
modem, a computer or two, phones, printers, tables, etc., and revolves around one
person in one building. These types of networks are typically found in small offices or
residences and are managed by one person or organization from a single device.

 LAN – are the most frequently discussed networks, one of the most common, one of the
most original and one of the simplest type of networks. LANs connect groups of
computers and low-voltage devices together across short distances to share information
and resources. Enterprises typically manage and maintain LANs.

 WLAN – functioning like a LAN, WLANs make use of wireless network technology, such
as Wi-Fi. Typically seen in the same types of applications as LANs, these types of
networks don’t require that devices rely on physical cables to connect to the network.

 CAN – large than LANs but smaller than metropolitan area networks. This type of
network is typically seen in universities, large K-12 school districts or small businesses.
They can be spread across several buildings that are fairly close to each other so users
can share resources.

 MAN – this type of network is larger than LANs but smaller than WANs – and
incorporate elements from both types of networks. MANs span an entire geographic
area. Ownership and maintenance are handled by either a single personal or company.
  WAN – slightly more complex than a LAN, a WAN connects computers together across
longer physical distances. This allows computers and low-voltage devices to be remotely
connected to each other over one large network to communicate even when they’re
miles apart.

3. What are some actual/real life example of each type of Computer Networks?

 PAN (Bluetooth) – is a wireless technology standard used for exchanging data between
fixed and mobile devices over short distances using UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio
waves in the industrial, scientific and medical radio bands, from 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz,
and building PANs. It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data
cables.

 LAN (Ethernet) – is widely used in homes and industry, and interworks well with Wi-Fi.
The internet protocol is commonly carried over Ethernet and so it is considered one of
the key technologies that make up the Internet.

 WLAN (Wi-Fi) – uses multiple parts of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineer) 802 protocol family and is designed to interwork seamlessly with its wired
sibling Ethernet. Compatible devices can network through wireless access points to each
other as well to wired devices and the internet.

 CAN (Network Switch) – is a networking hardware that connects devices on a computer

network by using packet switching to receive and forward data to the destination
device.

 MAN (Telecommunications) – a point-to-point connection refers to a communications

connection between two communication endpoints or nodes. An example is a
telephone call, in which one telephone is connected with one other, and what is said by
one caller can only be heard by the other.

 WAN (Cisco Wide Area Application Services) – is a technology developed by Cisco

Systems that optimizes the performance of any (Transmission Control Protocol) TCP-
based application operating in a WAN environment while preserving and strengthening
branch security.
 4. Differentiate the types of Computer Networks from each other.

The of a network can be expressed by the geographic area they occupy and the number
of computers that are part of the network. Network can cover anything from a handful of
devices within a single room to millions of devices spread across the entire globe. In terms of
purpose, many networks can be considered general purpose, which means they are used for
everything from sending files to a printer to accessing the internet.

5. What is the biggest type of network?

WAN, because in business, as well as schools and government entities, use wide area
networks to relay data to staff, students, clients, buyers and suppliers from various locations
across the world.

ANALYSIS

1. PAN – the reach of a PAN typically extends to 10 meters. A wired PAN is usually constructed
with (Universal Serial Bus) USB and FireWire connections while technologies such as Bluetooth
and infrared communication typically from a wireless PAN.

2. LAN – the defining characteristics of a LAN, in contrast to a WAN, include higher data transfer
rates, limited geographic range, and lack of reliance on leased lines to provide connectivity.

3. CAN – is made up of interconnection of LANs within a limited geographical area. The networking
equipment and transmission media are almost entirely owned by the campus tenant.

4. MAN – is a computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus

5. WAN – is a computer network that covers a large geographic area such as city, country, or spans
even intercontinental distances. A WAN uses a communications channel that combines many
types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and air waves.

APPLICATION

WLAN because an Internet Service Provider (ISP) typically serves as the access point or the
gateway that provides a user, access to everything available on the internet. A WLAN can also provide a
connection to the wider internet through gateway.
ASSESSMENT

A WAN is a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area for the
primary purpose of computer networking. Wide area networks are often established with leased
telecommunication circuits.

WANs are used to connect LANs and other types of networks together so that users and
computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs
are built for one particular organization and are private. Others, built by Internet service providers,
provide connections from an organization's LAN to the Internet. WANs are often built using  leased lines.
At each end of the leased line, a router connects the LAN on one side with a second router within the
LAN on the other. Protocols including Packet over SONET/SDH, Multiprotocol Label
Switching (MPLS), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Frame Relay are often used by service
providers to deliver the links that are used in WANs. X.25 was an important early WAN protocol, and is
often considered to be the "grandfather" of Frame Relay as many of the underlying protocols and
functions of X.25 are still in use today (with upgrades) by Frame Relay.