What is a LAN, MAN and WAN Network?
Most of us are familiar with networks and we may use them in your home, as well as our business. It is important for you to be able to recognize the difference between various types of networks, particularly when you use them regularly. There are many different types of networking that are available but some of the basic types are going to be LAN, MAN and WAN.
LAN is an acronym that stands for local area network. This is the most commonly seen type of network in both the home environment and for smaller businesses. Even in larger businesses, a LAN may be used for individual departments. This tends to be the most expensive type of network and it can give you high-speed access to the Internet as well as to other network services that may be available.
MAN stands for Metropolitan area network. This is a large network that is set up in a metropolitan area and it can span buildings throughout the area. This type of network is not only set up in larger cities, it can also be set up in smaller towns as the network can go from building to building in a smaller area just as easily.
A WAN network is a wide area network and although it is similar to a metropolitan area network, the WAN bandwidth tends to spread through a larger area. The network may still be confined to a certain extent, perhaps within a particular county or state. It may also be specific to one business. WAN optimization is an important part of making sure that this network is up and running regularly.
