Computer Networks In Detail

Computer networking

Computer networking means communication between a group of two or more computer systems linked together. Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware and computer software.
THE MOST COMMONLY DISCUSSED CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
 Storage Area Network (SAN)
 System Area Network (SAN)
 Server Area Network (SAN)
 Small Area Network (SAN)
 Personal Area Network (PAN)
 Desk Area Network (DAN)
 Controller Area Network (CAN)
 Cluster Area Network (CAN)

LANs and WANs were the original flavours of network design.

LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)  

 A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. It is a system in which computers are interconnected and the geographical spread may be within a building to 1 kilometer.

TYPE OF LAN
 Star LAN
 Ring LAN
 Bus LAN

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

 It is a data network designed for a town or city. This type of network is spread over a city. It connects an area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city, with dedicated or high performance hardware.

Wide Area Network (WAN)  

A WAN is a geographically dispersed collection of LANs. It is like the internet spans most of the world. In IP networking, the router maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address.
TYPES OF WAN
 Public Networks
 Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN)
 Public Service Digital Network (PSDN)

INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK (ISDN)  

 ISDN is used for voice, video and data services.
 It uses digital transmission.
 It combines both circuit and packet switching.

PRIVATE NETWORK  

 Private Network provides services at various locations using private or leased circuits by using technology of its choice.
 It is mostly used to carry large volume of data at very high speed transmission.
 It uses Modem's multiplexes and other communication devices.