What are main differences between LAN, WAN and MAN?
LAN (Local Area Network) is a complex client/server network, that is allocated and deployed at the relatively small space. It might be limited by just one building, office or sometimes even room. LAN can consist of big amount of equipment: servers, clients, printers, phones, not to mention all the devices that are used for interconnection of the devices, such as splitters and switches. In practice, LANs are often connected together in order to spare tasks on multiple servers. It makes managing network easier, when it is known the purpose of each separate server.
Figure 1. Typical WAN that includes many LANs.
If multiple LANs are being interconnected while allocated on close premises, this type of network is called MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), while many engineers refer to it as a WAN (Wide Area Network). WAN is a set of LANs interconnected, and allocated in different locations. It might be in different buildings, cities or even countries. Both MAN and WAN are using different from LAN transmission technology and methods. WAN is widely used in large companies, that has offices in all over the world, while resources for these offices should be shared. Also, we can refer to Internet – largest WAN in the world, that is combining millions of LANs together.
Examples:
LAN:
Private printing laboratory, called “Print it!”, where all the printing equipment and working computers of all eight employees are on the same floor. They have one server where data is stored and one backup server. No one can access their LAN due security and privacy reasons.
MAN:
The company described above has bought company across the street, that used to be printing on shirts, cups and bags, called “Shirts printing”. “Shirts printing” has been having its own LAN with own server that could be accessed only from inside. But now, it is a part of bigger company, so the resources could be managed more efficiently. The MAN network is being created, including both companies equipment, servers and computers. Now one server is used for data by both offices while the other one is used as a backup storage.
WAN:
“Printing Europe” company, which has offices and printing labs all over Europe, just bought “Print it!”. Now, the designers working in “Printing Europe” office in Paris should be able to give their projects to the printing lab, make corrections and fixes on the go. The “Print it!” office is connected to the WAN network, the network that includes all the offices in Europe, and makes working and sharing easier. Now the servers in the “Print it!” office are used just for local storage, while data centre in Paris is being used for working purposes.
