What is a Computer Network?
A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices that share resources and information.
These devices can include computers, servers, printers, and other hardware. Networks allow for
the efficient exchange of data, enabling various applications such as email, file sharing, and
internet browsing.
How Does a Computer Network Work?
Basics building blocks of a Computer network are Nodes and Links. A Network Node can be
illustrated as Equipment for Data Communication like a Modem, Router, etc., or Equipment of a
Data Terminal like connecting two computers or more. Link in Computer Networks can be defined
as wires or cables or free space of wireless networks.
The working of Computer Networks can be simply defined as rules or protocols which help in
sending and receiving data via the links which allow Computer networks to communicate. Each
device has an IP Address that helps in identifying a device.
Computer Network Types
A 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.
A computer network can be categorized by their size. A computer network is mainly of four
types:
o LAN(Local Area Network)
o PAN(Personal Area Network)
o MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
o WAN(Wide Area Network)
PAN(Personal Area Network)
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a type of computer network that is used to connect devices in a
limited area, such as within a single room or an individual's workspace. It is designed to facilitate
communication and data exchange between devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches,
or other personal gadgets. PANs are often used for personal purposes, such as syncing files between
devices, connecting peripherals (e.g., wireless headphones or printers), or sharing internet
connections.
With their small range of 1–100 meters, PANs are ideal for short-distance connections, offering high-
speed communication and convenience for personal device networking.
Range: 1–100 meters.
Transmission Speed: Very high.
Area: Typically within a room
There are two types of Personal Area Network:
o Wired Personal Area Network
o Wireless Personal Area Network
a. Wireless Personal Area Network: Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by simply
using wireless technologies. It is a low range network.
Technology:
• Bluetooth
• IR (Infrared)
• Zigbee
• WiFi Direct
b. Wired Personal Area Network: Wired Personal Area Network is created by using physical
cables.
Technology:
• USB
• FireWire
• Ethernet (fiber optic, twisted pair)
Examples of PAN
1. Body Area Network (BAN):
o A network of devices worn or implanted on the body.
o Examples:
▪ Smartwatches
▪ Fitness trackers
▪ Heart rate monitors
▪ Pacemakers
▪ Smart glasses
Connects to external devices like smartphones or computers to monitor fitness metrics and health
data.
2. Offline Network:
o A network that connects devices without requiring internet access.
o Examples:
▪ Wireless keyboard and mouse connected to a computer
▪ Bluetooth headset
▪ Wireless printer
LAN(Local Area Network)
LAN (Local Area Network):
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that connects devices within a small geographical area,
such as a building, office, school, or campus. It allows multiple devices like computers, printers,
and smartphones to communicate and share resources efficiently.
• Range: Typically up to 2 kilometers.
• Number of Devices: Can support a few dozen to thousands of devices, depending on the network
size and capacity.
• Technology Used:
o Wi-Fi: For wireless connectivity.
o Ethernet: For wired connections.
Applications of LAN:
1. File Sharing: Enables users to share files and data between connected devices.
2. Printer Sharing: Allows multiple users to use a shared printer over the network.
3. Internet Access: Provides internet connectivity to all devices connected to the LAN.
4. Online Gaming: Supports multiplayer gaming by connecting devices within the network.
LANs are commonly used in homes, offices, schools, and other small-scale environments to create
a reliable and high-speed network for communication and resource sharing.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
o A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger geographic area by
interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger network.
o Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.
o In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a telephone exchange
line.
• Range: 5-50km
Technologies
• FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)
• CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface)
• ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
Uses Of Metropolitan Area Network:
o MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.
o It can be used in an Airline Reservation.
o It can be used in a college within a city.
o It can also be used for communication in the military.
o Cable TV networks
WAN (Wide Area Network)
o A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area such as
states or countries.
o A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.
o A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large
geographical area through a telephone line, fibre optic cable or satellite links.
o The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
o A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education.
Technology used: Leased lines:
Dedicated communication lines leased from a telecommunication provider.
• Fiber optic cable
• Telephone lines
• Satellite links
Examples of Wide Area Network:
o Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region or country.
o Internet is the main example of WAN.
→ How all these Networks are different?
1. Geographical area
2. No. of devices
3. Purpose
4. Architecture
