Internet is a combination of different networks. Computers
and networks have made our problems very easy. We can save our time and money.
Now it is possible to get data and information I a few seconds and also to
share them with others. We are interacting people on the internet over thousand
miles far and getting information from the websites and internet. We are
getting data and information from every part of the world. We even don’t know how they are working and
what their structures are. Are they same, how we are getting access to these
information. This is because of different networks like LAN, MAN and WAN.
LAN ( local area network )
LAN is a local area network. It covers small regions. LAN
contains about hundreds of computers connected in it. Network in a locality, in
a business building and its branches is also an example of the LAN. They can
share data, information, hardware and software.
WAN ( wide area network )
WAN is a wide area network. It covers a huge place. A WAN is
a combination of at least 3 LAN connected together. Computers in WAN are often
connected to the public network and satellites. WAN can reach to the parts of
the world which is not possible with LAN.
MAN (metropolitan area network)
MAN is metropolitan area network. It is larger than LAN and
smaller than WAN. A MAN is generally owned by any organization. It provides
generally high speed because it consists of coaxial cables that connect a
number of computers together.
Two types of network designs are being used in LAN, MAN and
WAN. It depends on the criteria of the place that which one is suitable or not.
Peer-To-Peer Network
In most of the small industries or in small business peer to
peer model is being used. In the peer to
peer network every computer works as a node without any server. Every computer
has same capacity. Every computer connects to the other to communicate, share
data, and to share devices. Every computer has the ability to share data to the
others in the network and also can extract information from the other
computers.
Server-To-Peer Network
It is also possible to create a server to peer network for
small business and I large areas too. Server may be the most powerful computer
then others and may have a high speed and great storage capacity. And this
server may serve all the other computers in the small network. In the server to
peer network every other computer can extract data from the server.