LAN, MAN and WAN Network Topologies
There are many different types of network topologies, but the three most common types are LANs, MANs, and WANs. The LAN topology is probably the most common of the three. The MAN and WAN topologies are used but not nearly as much as the LAN topology is, although the WAN is starting to be used more and more because of the growing population of networks.
The LAN (Local Area Network) is used so much because it is used in small areas. Small businesses use LANs a great deal because they are small and they wouldnt need a WAN or a MAN because there business is usually ran out of one or maybe two buildings. You will usually find LANs in buildings, schools, and even in homes at times. Some buildings even have multiple LAN's in them for certain purposes.
When designing the layout of a LAN, the party can choose from a selection of different technologies on which to base the main part of their LAN. The technology choices that the party adopts will be a critical part in the way their LAN performs. Two important LAN setups are a network based on Ethernet or Token Ring technology. Besides operating in a small space, LANs have some other distinctive features. LANs are typically owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization.
A WAN (wide area network) goes across large physical distance. Many times a WAN will go almost around most of the world! The most popular WAN is the Internet. The Internet is one big huge WAN and it is also the most used WAN.
A WAN is basically a dispersed collection of LAN's. A network tool called a router connects LAN's to a WAN.
WAN's are different from LANs in many very important ways. Like the Internet, most WAN's are not owned by any one organization but somewhat exist under collective or distributed ownership and management. There are many WAN's in the United States but there are not nearly as many as there are LAN's.
Another very popular network is the WAN (wide area network). A WAN is basically used in to go from building to building across a city. To have make a MAN, the network size has to fall in-between the size of LAN's and WAN's.
... access to what and in which sequence. The router connects the LAN to other networks, which could be the Internet or another corporate network so that the LAN can exchange information with networks external to it. The most common LAN operating systems are Windows, Linux, and Novell. Each of these network operating systems supports TCP/IP as their default networking protocol. Ethernet is the dominant LAN standard at the physical network level, specifying the physical medium to carry signals between computers, access control rules, and a standardized set of bits used to carry data over the system. Originally, Ethernet supported a data transfer rate of 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Newer versions, such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, support data transfer rates of 100 Mbps and 1 gigabits per second (Gbps), respectively, and are used in network backbones.
In this topology, all nodes are connected to a central device, usually a hub or a switch. Each connected device has a dedicated, point-to-point connection between the device and the hub. The star network topology is by far the most widely implemented topology in use today.
To attempt to define a network in a few sentences would be a fool’s errand. A network could be seen as simply a grid of interconnecting connections between multiple bodies. However when this vision is applied to real-world systems, they all start to differ. There is not anything that exists in the universe that is not part of a network. A network is the result of different parts or members which have similarities in parts of their identity. This similarity that they have in common, they will also have with other bodies forming a network between them. Most of these factors of identity are different from those of most others. As a result, each factor will be in common with different other members of different networks. Each factor includes this body in a multitude of networks. This means that no one thing is in one and only one network, but is included in many.
Token ring networks had significantly superior performance and reliability compared to early shared-media implementations of Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), and were widely adopted as a higher-performance alternative to shared-media Ethernet.
...vantage of the overall network design and implement usable subnets with virtual local area networks. Use encryption and encapsulation to secure communications of public segments to enable extranets and cross-Internet company traffic. Use items such as intrusion detection systems and firewalls to keep unauthorized users out and monitor activity. Taken together, these pieces can make a secure network that is efficient, manageable, and effective.
Networks are designed in a number of ways, based on the geographical area, the technology used, user group specific, application based etc. But we can roughly categorize the communication networks in 2 broad categories, based on transmission: Connection-Oriented and Connectionless.
In designing a network, it is essential to first determine the scope of the project by asking key questions that will aid in the design and build. Questions such as how many servers and computers will be connected, what is the intended purpose of the network, and how much money is available are basic questions that come immediately to mind. Other questions such as security considerations, and how will the physical architecture of the building affect the design are often ignored but are equally important to the success of the network. Once these questions have been answered, the process of network design can begin. As the design of the network affects both media choices and performance, it is crucial that a design which takes current needs into account, allows room for growth, and provides a proven path for upgradeability is chosen.
The Internet consists of a three level hierarchy composed of backbone networks (e.g. ARPAnet, NSFNet, MILNET), mid-level networks, and stub networks. These include commercial (.com or .co), university (.ac or .edu) and other research networks (.org, .net) and military (.mil) networks and span many different physical networks around the world with various protocols, chiefly the Internet Protocol.
A communications network can provide many types of service. The most basic type of service is known as simplex. This service provides one-way communication. Examples of this type of service are TV distribution, and the transmission of burglar alarm messages.
Setting up the network basis is necessary to the success of this project. A Client/Server network is needed to implement through a TCP/IP protocol. Each plant will function as Local Area Network linked together as a Wide Area Network. All the users with the access will have the ability to exchange information instantly. This configuration will generate the best and secured settings to create and direct the information to the users.
There are basically four types of media used for Local Area Networks. The most commonly used are twisted copper pairs, Coaxial cables, Fiber Optic, and the Wireless technology.
Mesh, Bus, Ring and Star topologies. The term topology refers to the physical or logical shape or layout of a network. Communication between different nodes within a network is determined by its topology. Mesh, Bus, Ring and Star are four of the most common network topologies, each with advantages and disadvantages in relation to each other.
LANs systems can be defined and connected in many different ways. This is the reason for the standardization for every one can have a common ground to start from. “The LANs described Herein are distinguished from other types of data networks in that they are optimized for a moderate size geographic area such as a single office building, warehouse, or a campus. The IEEE 802 LAN is a shared medium peer-to-peer communications network that broadcasts information for all stations to receive. As a consequence, it does not inherently provide privacy. The LAN enables stations to communicate directly using a common physical medium on a point-to-point basis without any intermediate switching node being required. There is always need for an access sublayer in order to arbitrate to access to the shared medium. The network is generally owned, used, and operated by a single organization. This is in contrast to Wide Area Networks (WANs) that interconnect communication facilities in different parts of a country or are used as a public utility. These LANs are also different from networks, such as backplane buses, that are optimized for the interconnection of devices on a desk top or components within a single piece of equipment.”(IEEE 802 Standard 1990) That is the standard definition for LANs by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer committee 802. They are the committee used to set the standard in workmanship and operations for technicians that set-up and perform maintenance on LANs systems. And through all the technical words what they are trying to say is a LAN is a small area network that distributes information among computer in a small work environment unlike WANs that distribute information across global areas.
In Local Area Network(LAN), Ethernet is a physical and data link layer technology. used to connect more than one computer systems to form LAN that comes with protocols that can control the passing information and to avoid two or more systems transmit simultaneous. Ethernet cable made up of several coaxial wire. The function of Ethernet is to deliver data between computers on the Internet.
lines and radio waves; this is what we call a WAN (a system of LANs