| What exactly is a computer network? Well it's | | | | two or more LANs or even CANs are connected |
| were you are connected to several computers at | | | | together. A MAN however will not go beyond the |
| once. There are several different kinds of | | | | boundaries of the local city or town. |
| computer networks out there, such as Local area | | | | A WAN which remember is a Wide area network, |
| network or LAN, Personal area network or PAN, | | | | it covers a broader geographic area than a city, |
| Campus Area Network or CAN, Metropolitan are | | | | and perhaps two or more counties would be |
| network or MAN, and a Wide area network or | | | | connected this way. |
| WAN. You can see there are several types of | | | | Another network that we failed to list earlier is a |
| networks that are available in several different | | | | Global area network or GAN, this is actually |
| areas of the world. | | | | something that is being worked on by several |
| They have different capabilities depending on | | | | different groups at present and has yet to be |
| what type of networking system they are. The | | | | fully defined. What the basic idea of a GAN is, it |
| PAN, which as the name states is a personal | | | | will support mobile communication across LANs, |
| network, meaning it's used by one person. It's | | | | such as wireless coverage or even satellite |
| when you have a computer, scanner, fax, phone, | | | | coverage. |
| etc, hooked up to your computer at home. The | | | | Networks are an amazing thing that if you think |
| range of a PAN is quit small usually ranging in | | | | about it really haven't been around for a long |
| distances of 6 to 8 feet. | | | | amount of time. At least not with the |
| A LAN is usually in reference to a network that | | | | tremendous abilities that are now available to |
| covers a small location or a house. Most LANs use | | | | people who have computers in the World. It |
| Ethernet as the connection. A LAN and WAN are | | | | wasn't long ago when the only way to get on the |
| close in what they do, but a LAN can be | | | | internet was by dial-up services. Can you |
| distinguished by the higher level of data transfer | | | | remember how slow that was? Wow a friend of |
| rates. | | | | mine is still using dial-up and I make sure to tease |
| Next is the CAN, Campus area network, as it | | | | him every chance I get about it. Someday he'll |
| name applies is a network connection of two or | | | | finally change it. Granted when cable connections |
| more LANs on a college or other campus, military | | | | and DSL both came out they were a bit pricy, |
| bases, or other industrial complex. A CAN may | | | | but now it's really cheaper to pay a bit of money |
| actually be considered a MAN, but is most of the | | | | and get a fast connection. It's a lot less frustrating |
| time in a much smaller area than a MAN. | | | | now that LANs and all these other networks are |
| A MAN or Metropolitan area network is where | | | | around! |