Networks
Articles By Richard Lowe
The word network describes two or more computers that can share resources. These resources include printers, other computers, data, applications, communications, and just about anything else.
There are three basic types of networks
LAN
- LAN stands for Local Area Network. These are networks that are limited
to a specific, relatively small area. Usually this is just a single
office, warehouse, building or even an apartment. Generally a LAN does not
exceed the boundary of a single building and the connections between
computers is permanent.
WAN
- A WAN is a Wide Area Network. In many cases, a WAN consists of multiple
LANs or MANs. A WAN can be huge (even covering the entire planet or
extending out into space), and the connections between computer may or may
not be permanent.
MAN
- This stands for Metropolitan Area Network. The term is not used very
much, and it is really just a variation on the WAN concept. You can think
of a MAN as a WAN that is totally contained within the boundaries of a
single metropolitan area (a city).
Some good articles about network (mirrored locally with permission):
Expanding Unidirectional Ring Of Pages