Network

    A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to share resources (such as printers and CD-ROMs), exchange files, or allow electronic communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams.

Types of Network

Networks are of three types. These are:

* Local Area Network(LAN)

* Wide Area Network(WAN)

* Metropolitan Area Network(MAN)

Local Area Network

    A local area network is a network system in which computers are interconnected in a limited geographical area, such as network of computers in college computer laboratory or network of computers in office building etc.

 

Wide Area Network

    A wide area network is a network system that covers a large geographical area such as different cities of country or different countries of the world. In WAN telephone lines, satellites, microwave, fiber optic etc. are used as transmission media.

 

Metropolitan Area Network

    A Metropolitan area Network is a network system that covers area of a single city.  Usually, MAN connects more than one LANS in a city or town and covers a smaller geographical area than a WAN. The cable television, telephone companies or local corporations use MAN.