Computer Networks

Type of Computer Networks

• Local Area Network (LAN)

• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• Wide Area Network (WAN)

A LAN covers a small region of space, typically a single building such as school lab.

• Small size of network
• Very high speed of network
• Transmission media; Twisted pair
• Smallest number of computer

A MAN is a collection of LANs with the same geographical area, for instance a city such as Kuala Lumpur

• Larger size of network
• High speed of network
• Transmission media; Twisted pair and Fibre Optic Cable
• Large number of computer

A WAN can be a collection of LANs or MANs or the mix of two with a very large geographical area, for instance a country or even beyond the border such as between Kuala Lumpur and London

• Largest size of network 
• Slow speed of network 
• Transmission media; Fibre Optic, Radio wave and Sattelite 
• Largest number of computer