Type of Networks
PAN
Personal Area Network
A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network for interconnecting electronic devices within an individual person’s workspace. A PAN provides data transmission among devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets and personal digital assistants.
LAN
Local Area Network
A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices connected together in one physical location, such as a building, office, or home.
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a network that transmits information using electromagnetic waves or light, allowing devices to connect to the internet or other devices without the need for physical cables. WLANs are commonly used for wireless internet access in homes, offices, and public places.
CAN
Campus Area Network
A campus area network (CAN) is a computer network that spans a limited geographic area. CANs interconnect multiple local area networks (LAN) within an educational or corporate campus. Most CANs connect to the public Internet.
MAN
Metropolitan Area Network
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that covers a smaller geographical area such as a city or a large college campus system. Good examples of MANs are the local telephone company and your local cable TV company. MANs are also widely used in large companies and in governments to interconnect their computers.
WAN
Wide Area Network
A wide-area network (WAN) is the technology that connects your offices, data centers, cloud applications, and cloud storage together. It is called a wide-area network because it spans beyond a single building or large campus to include multiple locations spread across a specific geographic area, or even the world.
SAN
Storage Area Network
A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a network of storage devices that can be accessed by multiple servers or computers, providing a shared pool of storage space.
SANS
System Area Network
A system area network (SAN) is a group of devices that are linked by a high-speed, high-performance connection. A SAN connection uses Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, which are assigned by TCP/IP to each SAN network interface controller (NIC), to determine data routing.
POLAN
Passive Optical Local Area Network
A Passive Optical Network (PON) utilizes fiber-optic technology to distribute data from one source to multiple endpoints. The term “passive” denotes the use of optical fiber cables linked to an unpowered splitter, which transmits data from the service provider’s network to numerous customers.
EPAN
Enterprise Private Network
An Enterprise Private Network (EPN) is a computer network built by a business to interconnect its various company sites such as production sites, offices, and shops. This private network allows companies to share resources and communicate effectively.
VPN
Virtual Private Network
A VPN protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP addresses. This hides their browsing activity, identity, and location, allowing for greater privacy and autonomy. Anyone seeking a safer, freer, and more secure online experience could benefit from a VPN.
