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This article describes the two primary types of computer networks most widely used today. Introduction
By definition a network is simply two or more computers
communicating with each other. By understanding the different kinds of
networks and how they work you will be able to determine which network
will suit your organization's needs best. Some networks are rather
simple and easy to set up while others are much more complex and will
require the help of a trained professional.
LAN
LAN stands for Local Area Network. These networks can consist of
anywhere from two to thousands of computers. Even a simple network of
one computer connected to one printer can be considered a LAN. You can
also get more in-depth information and view illustrations in the
Reference Library article Understanding LANs.
- Peer-to-Peer - Sometimes called P2P, these networks are the
simplest and least expensive networks
to set up. P2P networks are simple in the sense that the computers are
connected directly to each other and share the same level of access on
the network, hence the name. Computer 1 will connect directly to
Computer 2 and will share all files with the appropriate security or
sharing rights. If many computers are connected a hub may be used to
connect all these computers and/or devices.
- Client/Server - Probably the most common LAN types used by
companies today, they are called
"client/server" because they consist of the server (which stores the
files or
runs applications) and the client machines, which are the computers
used by workers. Using a client/server setup can be helpful in many
ways. It can free up disk space by providing a central location for all
the files to be stored. It also ensures the most recent copy of that
file is available to all. A server can also act as a mail server (which
collects and sends all the e-mail) or a print server (which takes all
the print jobs and sends them to the printer, thus freeing computing
power on the client machine to continue working).
WAN
Wide Area Networks, or WANs are very large networks of computers.
These networks span large geographical areas, generally covering a
couple miles, sometimes connecting computers thousands of miles apart.
A WAN can also be a collection of LANs, bringing together many smaller
networks into one large network. A WAN can constitute a
very large corporate or government network, spanning the country or
even the world. In fact, the Internet is the largest and most common
WAN in existence today.
Summary
LANs and WANs in general are similar in the sense that they are
collections of computers. However, there are huge differences between
the simplest P2P LAN and a WAN. Whereas it is fairly easy to connect
two computers to each other and to a shared printer to for a simple P2P
LAN, trying to build a safe and secure LAN takes considerable time and
resources. Understanding your organization's needs, the size of the
network to be built, the complexity, and the fundamental differences
between the different types of LANs and WANs will help you to build the
most effective network for your organization. |
