What is the difference between a LAN, a MAN, and a WAN?

A LAN (local area network) is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. By definition, the connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive (e.g., token ring or Ethernet). Most Indiana University Bloomington departments are on LANs. For more, see What is a LAN (local area network)? A LAN connection is a high-speed connection to a LAN. On the IUB campus, most connections are either Ethernet (10Mbps) or Fast Ethernet (100Mbps), and a few locations have Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps) connections. A MAN (metropolitan area network) is a larger network that usually spans several buildings in the same city or town. The IUB network is an example of a MAN. A WAN (wide area network), in comparison to a MAN, is not restricted to a geographical location, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A WAN connects several LANs, and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or accessible to the public. The technology is high speed and relatively expensive. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN. What is the difference between LAN, WAN, and MAN. I know they sound a bit stupid, but these are the three different types of networks that you can have. When these connections become wireless they are renamed WLAN, WWAN, and WMAN. When you venture into wireless networks you will need to make sure you have wireless network security covered. Define LAN, WAN, and MAN LAN: (local area network as listed in our computer terms page) A group of computers that share a common connection and are usually in a small area or even in the same building. For example an office or home network. They are usually connected by Ethernet cables and have high speed connections. If it was a wireless setup it would be called a WLAN, which would have a lower connection speed. MAN: (metropolitan area network) This is a larger network that connects computer users in a particular geographic area or region. For example a large university may have a network so large that it may be classified as a MAN. The MAN network usually exist to provide connectivity to local ISPs, cable tv, or large corporations. It is far larger than a LAN and smaller

than a WAN. Also large cities like London and Sydney, Australia have metropolitan area

networks. WAN: (wide area network) This is the largest network and can interconnect networks throughout the world and is not restricted to a geographical location. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN. Most WANs exist to connect LANs that are not in the same geographical area. This technology is high speed and very expensive to setup. See 40 more networking tips. I hope these definitions helped as I have tried to explain LAN, WAN, and MAN in non technical terms.

Notes on the difference between LAN, WAN, and MAN:

Wireless LAN is WLAN. At the moment a wired connection is still always high speed as we have shown in this article on how to setup gigabyte ehthernet. Even though having a Wireless LAN is less mess with no cables, it compromises on speed. With new networks popping up all the time like 3G, GSM, and GPRS, the actual end user gets to connect directly to a WMAN which was unheard of. Most of these networks are mobile data standards that previously or still are used on cell phones.

LAN MAN WAN 1. LAN stands for Local Area Network. 2. Used Guided Media 3. A communication network linking a number of stations in same local area. 4. LAN generally provides a high-speed 100 Kbps to 100 Mbps. 1. MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. 2. Use may be Guided or may be Unguided media. 3. This network shares the characteristics of packet broadcasting networks. 4. A MAN is optimized for a large geographical area than LAN. 1. WAN stands for Wide Area Network. 2. Used Unguided media. 3. A communication network distinguished from a Local Area Network. 4. Its long distance communications, which may or may not be provided by public packet network. LAN: (local area network) A group of computers that share a common connection and are usually in a small area or even in the same building. For example an office or home network. They are usually connected by Ethernet cables and have high speed connections. If it was a

wireless setup it would be called a WLAN, which would have a lower connection speed. MAN: (metropolitan area network) This is a larger network that connects computer users in a particular geographic area or region. For example a large university may have a network so large that it may be classified as a MAN. The MAN network usually exist to provide connectivity to local ISPs, cable tv, or large corporations. It is far larger than a LAN and smaller than a WAN. Also large cities like London and Sydney, Australia have metropolitan area networks.

WAN: (wide area network) This is the largest network and can interconnect networks throughout the worldand is not restricted to a geographical location. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN. Most WANs exist to connect LANs that are not in the same geographical area. This technology is high speed and very expensive to setup. I hope these definitions helped as I have tried to explain LAN, WAN, and MAN in non technical terms.

Notes:

Wireless LAN is WLAN. At the moment a wired connection is still always high speed. Even though having a Wireless LAN is less mess with no cables, it compromises on speed.

With new networks popping up all the time like 3G, GSM, and GPRS, the actual end user gets to connect directly to a WMAN which was unheard of. Most of these networks are mobile data standards that previously or still are used on cell phones

An Intranet is essentially a mini in-house Internet. We can define intranet as an organization's private, secured computer network system that uses the same concepts, technologies and protocols (standards) as The Internet, but operates on a Local Area computer Network (LAN). It incorporates a working, interactive custom environment to serve the business/organization model, with familiar Internet website-like navigation and functionality. In other words, an intranet is a corporate networked internal web site with other features like internal e-mail, news group and chat facilities etc. Just like you find in the Internet. A specialty of the intranet is, it can be as basic or comprehensive as is needed. And intranets operate on a local area computer network consisting of client and server computers and other interconnecting devices and technologies. The intranet is formed in such a way that all the information, applications and other resources the organizations employees need are accessible via the intranet. Control and security measures are also available just like in computers. (e.g.

restricted access, user accounts and many more measures are applied in the intranet as well). The intranets content and software are many and include business applications, departmental forms, internal forums & collaborations, news & messages from top executives, business reports, points of interest, maps of the area, and upcoming training events etc. In addition it provides a common interface for the organizations information systems and acts as a resource centre for the organization. It also facilitates interdepartmental cooperation and saves hard and soft resources. Principle uses of intranets are similar to the uses of the Internet like file transfers, electronic mail (e-mail) and communication, information dissemination etc. But unlike the Internet, which can be accessed and used by anyone and which also allows to logon to a computer from a remote location, the intranet is only and strictly accessible within the internal local area network (LAN) of the organization alone. This diagram shows a organization intranet system.

If access to or from the Internet or another location such as a wide area network (WAN a organizations private computer network spread across different geographical locations) is provided to a intranet, it will be through a firewall gateway that will require a username and password. In this case the intranet becomes an extranet. In other words, an extranet is the extension of an intranet to include public access or access from other locations such as in a WAN. In short, intranet provides access to information and other services quickly and easily in a familiar environment since it is like a web site found on the World Wide Web with a home page and related links to other information and applications. At the same time it keeps this information and applications securely off the public Internet.