Types of Networks: LAN, WAN, WLAN, MAN, SAN, PAN, EPN & VPN

The smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger LANs can accommodate thousands of computers. A LAN typically relies mostly on wired connections for increased speed and security, but wireless connections can also be part of a LAN. High speed and relatively low cost are the defining characteristics of LANs.

LANs are typically used for single sites where people need to share resources among themselves but not with the rest of the outside world. Think of an office building where everybody should be able to access files on a central server or be able to print a document to one or more central printers. Those tasks should be easy for everybody working in the same office, but you would not want somebody just walking outside to be able to send a document to the printer from their cell phone! If a local area network, or LAN, is entirely wireless, it is referred to as a wireless local area network, or WLAN.

When it comes to today's increased use of remote work connections, the WAN is a powerful tool that provides interfaces to the Internet as well as giving access to systems that may be spread throughout the world.

One means of connecting to a WAN is through a VPN or virtual private network. This allows a secure connection to the WAN, thus protecting your data and device from attack.

In addition to virtual connections, fiber optic provides a backbone to many WAN setups.

One approach to a private network is to build an enterprise private network, or EPN. An EPN is a computer network that is entirely controlled by one organization, and it is used to connect multiple locations. Historically, telecommunications companies, like AT&T, operated their own network, separate from the public Internet. EPNs are still fairly common in certain sectors where security is of the highest concern. For example, a number of health facilities may establish their own network between multiple sites to have full control over the confidentiality of patient records.

With the growth of the Internet, private networks have gone virtual. A virtual private network, or VPN, extends a private network into a public network, such as the Internet. A VPN is a network in which some parts of the network use the Internet, but data is encrypted before it is sent over the Internet to indicate that it is a private network. A VPN provides a high level of security for traffic over the Internet.

A home area network, or HAN, is a type of PAN specifically designed for home use. A home network may include things like digital televisions, home security and other types of systems that are unique to the home environment and not typically found in an office.

A body area network, or BAN, is a network of wearable computing devices. This can include things like a watch, special glasses, tracking devices and heart-rate monitors. For example, an Alzheimer's patient could be outfitted with a location tracking device and a cellular communication device. If they leave a certain area, family members can be alerted with a text or e-mail message to the location of their loved one.

A personal area network is a computer network organized around an individual person within a single building. A local area network consists of a computer network at a single site for sharing resources, typically an individual office building.

A metropolitan area network consists of a computer network across an entire city, college campus or small region. A wide area network occupies a very large area, such as an entire country or the entire world. Special purpose networks include storage area networks, home area networks and body area networks.

• Identify how computer networks are classified
• Describe different networks based on size
• Explain the purpose of SANs, VPNs and EPNs