What are the types of networks classified by coverage?

Network types classified according to coverage include: local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and metropolitan area network (MAN). A local area network is just a group of computers connected through a network at the same location, and its range is generally from a few meters to tens of kilometers; the range of a wide area network is generally tens to thousands of kilometers; the scale of a metropolitan area network is limited to a city within the range.

#The operating environment of this article: windows10 system, thinkpad t480 computer.

There are different classification methods for networks from different perspectives, and each network name has a special meaning. The combination of several names or names plus parameters can better reveal the characteristics of the network. Gigabit Ethernet represents a bus-type network with transmission rates up to Gigabit. Understanding the classification methods and type characteristics of networks is one of the important foundations for becoming familiar with network technology.

Computer networks are classified according to coverage:

1. Local area network (LAN): Generally limited to a small area, the range is generally a few meters to dozens of kilometers, usually using a wired method connect them.

2. Wide Area Network (WAN): The network spans national boundaries, continental boundaries, and even global scope, and its scope is generally tens to thousands of kilometers.

3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): The scale is limited to the scope of a city, bounded between WAN and LAN, generally an area of 10 to 100km.

LAN and WAN are the hot spots of the network. The local area network is the basis for the other two types of networks, and the metropolitan area network is generally added to the wide area network. The typical representative of wide area network is the internet network.

LAN

Local area network (local area network) is usually referred to as "local area network", abbreviated as LAN. A local area network is a computer network with the least structural complexity. A local area network is simply a group of computers in the same location that are connected via a network. LANs are usually very close together and are currently the most widely used type of network. A network with the following characteristics is usually called a local area network.

1) The geographical scope covered by the network is relatively small. Usually no more than a few dozen kilometers, or even just within a building or a room.

2) The information transmission rate is relatively high, ranging from 1Mbps to 10Mbps, and has reached 100Mbps. The transmission rate of WAN operation is generally 2400bps, 9600bps or 38.4kbps, 56.64kbps. Dedicated lines can only reach 1.544Mbps.

3) The operation and management rights of the network belong to a certain unit.

Wide Area Network

Wide area network (WAN) is a complex network system with wide impact.

WAN consists of two or more LANs, and the connections between these LANs can traverse a distance of more than 30mile*. A large WAN can consist of many LANs and MANs on various continents. The most well-known WAN is the Internet, which consists of thousands of LANs and WANs around the world.

Sometimes the boundaries between LAN, MAN and WAN are very unclear, and it is difficult to determine where the LAN ends and the MAN or WAN begins. But the type of network can be determined by four network characteristics - communication medium, protocol, topology, and boundary points between private and public networks. Communications media are electrical cables, fiber optic cables, radio waves, or microwaves that connect computers to networks. Typically LANs end where the communication medium changes, such as from wire-based cables to fiber optics. A wire and cable LAN is usually connected to other LANs through optical fiber cables.

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