Area Network Configurations
There are many different ways to set up a network of computers. These networks connect computers with other computers. The networks sometimes use wires to allow the computers to communicate and sometimes the connection is wireless (no wires). There are PANs, LANs, WANs, MANs, HANs, CANs, GANs and SANs. Here are the three most basic and frequently encountered type of computer network configurations in use today.
LAN - Local Area Network
"A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building." The individual computers are referred to as workstations. Each computer is then connected to a server. A server is a much more powerful computer that can run faster and holds more memory than a workstation. Advantage of setting up a LAN include limiting user access (you must log on to use the computer), you can share information and printers with others on the server, and in schools you can more easily supply services like the internet quickly and easily to all workstation users. Disadvantages are that it is expensive to set up and maintain, if the server fails the entire network can fail, and wires can break and may be difficult to find in order to repair. (Winkelman, 2013).
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WAN - Wide Area Network
A WAN is a wide area network that would connect larger geographic areas like the city of Seattle or the state of Washington. Even the entire planet earth could be a WAN (Winkelman, 2013).
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WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
Wireless local area networks can "use high frequency radio signals, infrared light beams, or lasers to communicate between the workstations, servers, or hubs" (Winkelman, 2013). The advantages of a wireless network is the mobility of the device, it is fast to set up at a reasonable cost and easily expanded. There are disadvantages of a wireless network however. Using wireless devices is not as secure as wired devices, there can be more frequent interference to an internet connection and for this same reason, wireless devices may be slower in speed (Winkelman, 2013)
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The image below is an excellent resource to understand the basics of area networks. Dr. Roy Winkelman directed the group that produced this resource out of the University of South Florida. The publication was written with grant money from the Florida Department of Education. Here is a direct link to an Educators Guide to School Networks.