Networking is a simple word, one we often use in our everyday conversation. In tech jargon, the term “network” is employed to describe a set of components or devices connected together with the purpose of sharing or relaying information.
A network may be simple or it may be complex. An example of a simple network being set up would be your PC connecting to the home Wi-Fi once you set it up; on the other hand, a complex network would mean something like, let’s say, the World Wide Web, or in simpler terms, the Internet, as we know it.
Before delving into the complexities involved with setting a network up, it’s important we understand the various types of networks.
What are the Five Types of Networks?
Local Area Network (LAN)
A Local Area Network (LAN) describes a set of computers or devices connected in a smaller setting with definite geographical boundaries, which may be your home, the college campus, or a workplace building.
The simplest and most common example of this would be your PC connecting to the Wi-Fi router device.
LANs in an office setting function by connecting various workstations to common resources such as the printer, or the FAX machine. Such networks also allow easier transfer of information between employees.
The connection in a LAN itself takes place via Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi, or both, alongside a single ISP-enabled central device serving as the router.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A Wireless Local Area Network may be considered a subclassification of a regular LAN.
If the name itself didn’t already give it away, a WLAN uses Wi-Fi as its mode of connection for devices forming the network. That means that while a regular LAN may employ entities such as ethernet cables, a WLAN only uses wireless connections such as Wi-Fi.
While the logistical requirements for a WLAN may be very similar to a LAN in terms of requiring a central ISP-provided device to serve as the router, what is important to note is that WLANs will often require various wireless access points to ensure coverage of weaker areas of connectivity.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A Wide Area Network, as the name implies, covers a wider area. These networks connect various smaller networks over a larger geographic area serving the same purpose of connectivity as in other networks.
When thinking of a WAN, it’s important to think big. What’s the biggest network in the world that you know of? Take a second to think.
The internet! That’s right, the internet itself is a WAN. It works by connecting countless networks all over the world.
Now since these networks cover such massive distances, it’s also important to know how these connections are made possible. This is often done by the use of things such as massive copper lines or fiber optic cables.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If you live in a place with frequent firewalling, the term VPN is something that would not be new to you.
A VPN essentially functions as a private remote network. This means that you can access and share information as part of a private network regardless of your geographical location.
To put it into even simpler words, once you set up a VPN on your device, whilst your geographical location may be within, let’s say, Italy, on the internet you will appear as someone sitting in, let’s say, the United States. Thus, it is possible to mask your actual IP address (and identity) when communicating with other networks.
VPNs are often employed in business settings for increased privacy and to halter attempts of data hacks.
Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is adopted to group a smaller batch of devices that are part of a bigger network, essentially providing means for the set-up of a virtual network amongst those devices. Such models are employed in businesses requiring the grouping of certain people/devices for easier management of data.
A VLAN uses something called “VLAN tagging”. This allows the identification of specific sets of data as they enter a port, thus creating discrete channels for communication.
Conclusion
We hope this article was able to help you map out the five basic types of networks in your mind, their employability, and the general characteristics of each.
To sum up a few important things, computer networks are used for shared connectivity, central storage of data, enhanced security, and a better functioning environment. However, managing such networks to prevent malware and imminent attempts at hacking is something that requires constant scrutiny.