All types of Network: Definition, application, advantages Explained

Network Definition, Types, Applications, and Advantages

What is Network?-Definition

The Network is the interconnection between computers, laptops, servers, smartphones, and other network devices for communication, data sharing, data transporting, data exchanging, and operations.

Computer, laptops, smartphones are the greatest device which makes easy our works. Most of the time in the office, business and other places we have a need to share and transfer data between computers. This is possible by creating a network. First, the concept of the network comes with the computer. The connection of two or more computer through switches, modem, and routers are called Network. Nowadays we connecting all the devices like smartphones, televisions, and many other devices for our requirements.

Examples of Network:

The telephone communication system is a network which connects the no. of Telephones and helps us to communicate with the people.
INTERNET is the biggest network in the world. It connects millions of computers, smartphones, and servers around the world.
When you share files, and data with your friends using wifi, Bluetooth, etc then it is also called a network.
The cable services in your home also have a network that connects the televisions to the Satellite.

Types of Network:

There are many procedures of connection of computers, servers, and other devices. According to the procedure of connection of the computers and range of area, there are many types of network available which are,

Peer-to-Peer Network
Server-based network
PAN (Personal Area Network)
WPAN(Wireless Personal Area Network)
LAN (Local Area Network)
WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
CAN (Campus Area Network)
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network )
WAN (Wide Area Network)
SAN (Storage Area Network)
EPN (Enterprise Private Network)
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Inter-Network

What is Peer-to-peer Network?

The peer-to-peer network is the oldest and simplest network system. It is the network system in which only computers or mobiles are connected. There is no SERVER is connected. It is the smallest area network.

Example of Peer-to-peer Network:

When we play games on our mobile with no. of friends by connecting the mobiles through the Bluetooth or wifi then it can be called a peer-to-peer network. Here no server is required.
The other example of the Peer-to-peer Network is communication with the walkie-talkie. By using the walkie-talkie we can communicate with the no. of people in a short area.

Advantages of Peer-to-peer Network:

It is the simplest network system.
No server is required.
Easily identify problems.
High-speed communication.

Server-Based-Network:

In the server-based network system, the services are provided from a server to a different computer. A user can store data on the server hidden or open to all. Other users can access that data which is open to all by logging in the server.

Suppose in your office 10 employees working you can connect their computer to a server. The data and information which are required for all employees. They can easily use that data.

The advantage of Server-Based-Network:

In the server-based-network system, the server provides services to the all connected users. If all user needs the same files, data, and information then these data, information, and files can be provided by the server to all user. The users have not to need to store these data, and files individually on their computers.
A company or office can make a local website and can host to this server. This makes easy the working procedure of the company or office.

Read Also: Modem VS Router. Explained in details.

PAN (Personal Area Network):

This is the smallest network system. The connection between two mobiles or two computers or between a computer and a mobile can be called a personal area network. This total network system can be used by the only one user. This network system we used our home, offices etc.

Examples of PAN (Personal Area Network):

The connection of mobile and computer through USB cable.
Bluetooth
RFID is also an example of PAN.
Remote control of television, Air-conditioners are the examples of Personal Area Networks.

Advantages of PAN (Personal Area Network):

It helps us to send files, and data from one phone to another phone.
It helps us to print, scanning of documents by the printer, or scanner.
Using PAN we can easily transfer data, and files from computer to mobile and mobile to computer.
The connection of the projector to the computer and the connection of the computer to the television also called PAN.

WPAN(Wireless Personal Area Network):

WPAN is the same as PAN the only difference is that the connection is wireless by means of a radio wave. The examples of WPAN are Bluetooth, wi-fi, etc.

LAN (Local Area Network):

It is also a simple and most usable network system. A local area network is located in one physical location so maybe a single office or a single floor in a building. LAN may be a server-based network or peer-to-peer network.
Suppose in an office 20 employees working they have individual computers. There is one printer and the printer is connected to all computers. It can be called a local area network. The computers are also connected to each other.
The computers may be connected to one server for data storage so each individual employee can store data on the server.

Characteristics of Local Area Network(LAN):

The local area network may consist of a minimum of two computers up to thousands of computers.
As the local area network exists in a short area the speed of the data transfer, and communication is very high.

Application of Local Area Network(LAN):

The local area network is the most usable network.
The local area network is used for offices, schools, ships, etc.
Local area network is used in small companies for controlling of computers, and machines, and also used in the automation system.
Local area network helps to connect CCTV cameras in a building.

local area network used in office, types of netwprk

Advantages of Local Area Network(LAN):

It is a simple and low-cost network system.
As in this system one printer, the storage area can be used by more than one user which is why the Local Area Network(LAN) system can save investment, and extra expenses in industry, and office.
This network system gives more privacy and security from data hacking etc.
Internet connection can be shared over all LAN users from a single internet connection.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network):

WLAN is the same as the LAN. The WLAN system uses wireless connection technology (like Wi-Fi technology). The WLAN uses high-frequency radio waves to connect the computers, and servers for transmission of data, information, and files.

CAN (Campus Area Network):

These types of networks are used for railway platforms, college campuses, and airports to provide internet connection and monitoring systems.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network ):

The connection of computers, and servers of a whole city is called the Metropolitan Area Network. It is a larger LAN. These services are provided by a private company. MAN can be created by the connection of several LANs together.

Examples of MAN (Metropolitan Area Network ):

Cable TV services can be called Metropolitan Area Network.
Municipal wi-fi networks can be called MAN.

WAN (Wide Area Network):

Wide Area Network is the network all over a state or country. The WAN may be the connection of several MANs or LANs together. WAN is larger than MAN.

Example of WAN (Wide Area Network):

INTERNET is an example of the Wide Area Network.
ATM also an example of WAN
Telephone service

Advantages of WAN (Wide Area Network):

INTERNET can be served all over the state or country by the Wide Area Network.
The communication around the whole country is possible by the Wide Area Network.

Disadvantages of WAN (Wide Area Network):

The setup cost is very high.
Maintainance cost also very high.
Security is not good.

VPN (Virtual Private Network):

VPN is used to create a virtual network or IP address. VPN does secure the privacy. When we access the Internet through the internet service provider they register an IP address for our Internet connection. ISP can see our website visit history, in fact, our personal data. But when we using VPN ISP cannot see our website visit history and others.

Uses of VPN:

Actually, the main uses of VPN are privacy and security. You can use a VPN for your private work like official, or business works. VPN gives safety and security. Your ISP cannot see your work and also any other hackers also cannot hack your data.
Using VPN you can hide your browsing data from your internet service provider. When you use public wi-fi then VPN can your connection more secure.
Many websites and contents are blocked by the government in a particular country. To visit those sites and get that contents you have to need use a VPN.
VPN helps to watch live streaming and download files from restricted sites.VPN is also for downloading torrents or any other files.

Advantages of VPN:

It gives more security of internet connection.
It gives full privacy
It can hide your true location.

Disadvantages of VPN:

When we using the internet with VPN the speed of the internet becomes slow.
VPN consumes network traffic too much.

These are all types of Network.

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