Networking - What is a network? What are the different kinds of
network? Explain them - Jan 28, 2009 at 22:10 PM by Rajmeet Ghai
What is a network? What are the different kinds of network? Explain them
A network is a group of computers or nodes connected together. They are
connected with each other by communication paths.
Types of Networks:
LAN – Local Area Network connects a group of nodes covering a
small physical area. LAN’s are most commonly seen in offices, building etc.
LAN’s enable higher transfer rate of data, smaller coverage of area and hence
less wiring.
WAN – Wide Area Network connects a group of nodes covering a
wide area. WAN typically connects and allow communication between regions or
national boundaries. The most common example of WAN is internet.
VPN – Virtual Private Network connects or links nodes in some
larger area by open connections or virtual circuits in some larger network
(e.g., the Internet) instead of by physical wires. It is used for secure
communication through the public internet. VPN alone may not support explicit
security features, such as authentication or content encryption.
Intranet – It is a set of networks under the control of a
single administrative person. It can be considered as an internal network of an
organization. If it is large, web servers are used to provide information to
the users.
Extranet – It is a network that restricts itself within a
single organization. It can be categorized as WAN, MAN etc. however; it cannot
have a single LAN. It must have a connection (at least one) with external
network.
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