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8.10.2 Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN is a privately owned computer network covering a small geographical area (small physical
area), like a home, office or a building such as a school. It can cover an area spread over a few
metres to a radius of a few kilometres.
Occasionally, a LAN can span a group of nearby buildings. In addition to operating in a limited
space, a LAN is owned, controlled and managed by a single person or organization. A LAN can be
set up using wired media (UTP cables, coaxial cables, etc.) or wireless media (Infrared,
Radio waves). If a LAN is set up using unguided media, it is known as WLAN (wireless LAN). The
key purpose of a LAN is to share resources. LAN users can share data, programs, printer, disk,
modem, etc.

LAN in CAMPUS

Fig. 8.15: Local Area Network (LAN)

Data transfer rate speed over a Local Area Network can vary from 10 mbps to 1 gbps.

8.10.3 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

MAN is larger than a LAN and can cover a city and its surrounding areas. A MAN usually interconnects
a number of LANs and individual computers. It also shares the computing resources among users.
All types of communication media (guided and unguided) are used to set up a MAN. A MAN is
typically owned and operated by a single entity such as a government body or a large corporation.
A good example of MAN is the interconnected offices of a Multinational Corporation (MNC) or
cable television networks available in the whole city.

Computer Networks

8.15