Terminology » Networking Basics » LAN vs. MAN vs. WAN: Understanding Network Types

LAN vs. MAN vs. WAN: Understanding Network Types

computer network local area network wide area network metropolitan area network topology

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LAN, MAN, and WAN in Computer Networks

LAN stands for Local Area Network, WAN stands for Wide Area Network, and MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. These technologies are primarily used for data communication, providing coverage distances ranging from 100 to 1000 meters.

Figure 1 illustrates the three network topologies: LAN, MAN, and WAN.

LAN MAN WAN Network Types LAN MAN WAN Network Types

LANs, MANs, and WANs have been developed to meet specific networking needs and address different geographical and organizational requirements.

LAN (Local Area Network)

LANs have a smaller coverage range, typically within a house or office premises. They can connect one building to a nearby building. Most LANs usually have about 10 to 100 users, who time-share the system.

LANs were developed to allow the sharing of common resources such as printers, hard disks, and modems among multiple PCs. In this scenario, the PC connected with the common resource acts as a controller through which all users access the resource.

As technology evolved, LANs began to be used for corporate email systems, where one system is configured as a server storing mailboxes for all users.

The latest advancements in LAN technology support data rates ranging from 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps. LANs were initially designed according to the 802 standards, with later wireless standards evolving, such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, and 11n. Research is ongoing to finalize products supporting IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11ad, which support very high data rates.

Advantages of LAN

  1. It offers high-speed data transfer rates.
  2. It offers low latency, ensuring minimal delay in communication between devices.
  3. It is relatively easy to set up and manage.
  4. LAN components are affordable, making LANs cost-effective.
  5. It can be more secure as they are confined to a specific area.

Disadvantages of LAN

  1. LANs are limited in coverage and are not suitable for connecting geographically dispersed locations.
  2. Expanding a LAN can be complex, especially in large organizations, and may require network redesign.
  3. LANs are isolated networks, which limits connectivity to devices within the same LAN.
  4. Managing and maintaining LAN infrastructure can become cumbersome as the network grows.
  5. While LAN components are relatively affordable, the cost can still add up for larger deployments.

CAN (Campus Area Network)

CAN stands for Campus Area Network. It is a network composed of multiple interconnected LANs within a limited coverage area. CAN network type is smaller in comparison with MAN and WAN.

Examples of CAN-based networks:

  • SUNet network of Stanford University
  • Project Athena of MIT

CAN offers the following benefits:

  • It is cost-effective.
  • It enables multi-department network access.
  • It supports single and shared data transfer.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

MANs occupy coverage between LANs and WANs. MAN has distance coverage and data rate higher than LAN, but less than WAN. This is the major difference between LAN and MAN. MAN overlaps to some extent with the geographical coverage requirement of WAN.

A typical example of a MAN is a local Cable TV system. Here, the cable TV company picks up programs from a satellite and delivers them to individual homes via coaxial cable. Each home is a node in this network of nodes.

Advantages of MAN

  1. MANs cover larger geographical areas, connecting multiple LANs.
  2. It offers faster data transfer rates than WANs.
  3. MANs enable efficient sharing of resources, such as data centers and servers, across multiple locations.
  4. Redundancy and backup capabilities can be implemented more effectively in MANs, enhancing disaster recovery options.
  5. MANs strike a balance between the high costs of WAN infrastructure and the limited coverage of LANs.

Disadvantages of MAN

  1. MANs can be more complex to design and maintain than LANs.
  2. Establishing a MAN may require significant investment in infrastructure and leased lines.
  3. MANs offer higher latency compared to LANs but lower than WANs.
  4. Managing security across multiple locations in a MAN can be challenging.
  5. MANs are not suitable for connecting remote or widely dispersed locations.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

WANs have coverage larger than LANs and are mainly used for cellular applications, supporting both voice and data applications. A larger network covering an entire country or state is referred to as a WAN.

Most WANs are telephone systems. Various technologies exist to support WAN such as WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, fiber optics, ATM and more. It covers distances up to 1000-10 kilometers and also goes up to 100km.

Advantages of WAN

  1. WANs provide global connectivity, allowing organizations to connect geographically distant offices and users.
  2. They are highly scalable.
  3. They enable centralized control of resources and data, which enhances data management and access control.
  4. WANs offer a wide range of connectivity options from leased lines to satellite links, providing flexibility in network design.
  5. WANs support remote access for users and devices, which facilitates remote work and mobile connectivity.

Disadvantages of WAN

  1. Building and maintaining WAN infrastructure can be expensive.
  2. WANs offer higher latency compared to LANs/MANs.
  3. WAN configuration and management can be complex, requiring skilled IT personnel.
  4. WANs are susceptible to security threats, and securing data can be challenging.
  5. WANs often rely on third-party service providers, which can lead to dependency and potential service disruptions.

Difference between LAN, MAN, and WAN

The following table compares LAN, MAN, and WAN with respect to various computer network parameters:

SL NOFeaturesLANMANWAN
1ScopeSmall geographical area e.g. a single building or campusLarge geographical area e.g. city or metropolitan regionVast geographical area e.g. across cities, states, or countries
2Coverage distanceAbout 1-2 kmsCovers several Kms to tens of kmsSpans hundreds to thousands of kms
3Data transfer speedHigh speed (Typically in Mbps to Gbps range)High speed, faster than WANs but slower than LANsVariable, often slower than LANs and MANs in Kbps to Gbps range
4LatencyLowLow to ModerateModerate to high
5Ownership and controlOwned and controlled by a single organizationOwned and controlled by a single organization or multiple organizationsOwned and controlled by various entities and service providers
6Infrastructure CostRelatively lowerHigher than LANs and lower than WANsHigh infrastructure costs
7TopologyTypically uses bus, ring or star topologiesVarious topologies (ring, star, mesh) depending on requirementsOften uses point-to-point or mesh topologies
8Reliability and redundancyGenerally simpler, with limited redundancyCan implement redundancy for improved reliabilityCan implement extensive redundancy and failover mechanisms
9SecurityEasier to secure within a confined areaModerate security challenges due to larger coverage areaComplex security challenges, requiring robust measures
10Use casesSuitable for small-scale networking, file sharing, printingConnects multiple LANs within a city, suitable for city-wide resourcesConnects remote offices, branches, and global communication networks
11Example with transport mediumHome ethernet network using twisted pair ethernet cablesCitywide fiber optic network using fiber cablesGlobal satellite networks using satellite links

Conclusion

The primary differences between LANs, MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks), and WANs (Wide Area Networks) lie in their coverage and scale. MANs extend their reach to cities, connecting multiple LANs with moderate-speed connections, whereas WANs span vast distances, facilitating global connectivity with variable speeds and higher latencies. LANs are cost-effective and straightforward but have limited reach. MANs balance cost and coverage, while WANs are suitable for remote connections but come with higher expenses and complexity. Each network type has its unique advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different scales and use cases.