LAN
Local Area Networks (LANs) are computer networks connected to one data source. A local area network connects directly to the internet through a router, offering numerous advantages to both businesses and individuals alike.
Increase productivity and save both time and money with easy setup and use. Share files safely and quickly using this secure file-sharing solution, plus utilize its central server as data storage space.
LANs typically utilize Ethernet or WiFi Technology to link devices within their network, including servers, desktop computers, laptops, printers, IoT and gaming devices in homes and offices alike. LANs also allow employees shared access to printers and servers within the office environment.
Trouble with LANs may arise from congestion, interference and misconfigurations. To address these issues, a network should be properly configured and monitored – for instance using QoS settings to prioritize essential traffic while segregating the network via VLANs can help resolve them.
WAN
A wide area network (WAN) connects the local area network (LAN) to devices outside a company’s building and beyond its walls, including Internet and local telecommunications networks such as metropolitan area networks (MANs).
Without wide area networks (WAN), telecommuting or working across cities or countries would be impossible. Accessing data storage or backup from remote locations, videoconferencing and performing other high-speed functions would also become difficult without these connections.
A wide area network (WAN) may be wired or wireless; wired WANs typically consist of broadband Internet Services and multiprotocol label switching while wireless WANs consist of 4G/5G and LTE networks. Both types have their own set of benefits and drawbacks; wired WANs tend to offer greater security as there’s physical contact between devices which makes it harder for cyber attackers to gain unauthorized entry; while wireless WANs have the additional benefit of not needing any additional hardware but suffer from latency issues due to data packets traveling faster than light and not arriving instantaneously in their entirety.
Wireless MAN
WMANs (Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks) are wireless networks used to link together multiple wireless LANs in metropolitan areas. It can use a variety of technologies, such as Wi-Fi, wireless PTP links (point-to-point), millimeter wave radio and microwave technology as well as satellite networks – among others – for connectivity purposes. A WMAN’s benefits include higher bandwidth, lower latency and better reliability while supporting business applications like cloud storage, VoIP telephone calls and video conferencing.
Security measures for a MAN include encryption protocols and comprehensive data protection strategies that protect it against unauthorised access and other potential threats to its infrastructure and operations. In addition, network monitoring systems monitor WMAN activity to ensure continuity.
MANs provide seamless internet connectivity in urban areas, driving growth and innovation for businesses and individuals alike. By eliminating physical cable constraints, they allow workers to work wherever they wish, increasing productivity and efficiency. Plus, these networks have lower costs than wired connections and can easily expand. Furthermore, they enable public-private collaboration as well as providing fast broadband internet services with fast speed.
Wireless Mesh
A wireless mesh network uses multiple routers to transmit and Receive Data, with each acting as a repeater with multiple radio interfaces that connect wireless devices like laptops and smart phones. Some routers also serve as gateways, providing connections to wired networks as well as the Internet. Wireless mesh networks are particularly effective in non-line-of-sight environments where obstacles like walls or other wireless devices could disrupt signal quality.
Mesh systems employ nodes that communicate over frequencies like 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, providing two ways of communication among nodes within their node network. Some dual-band mesh systems utilize both frequencies simultaneously while others feature tri-band communications with dedicated channels to improve capacity, speed and range.
Mesh networks tend to be more costly than standalone base stations, yet can provide more reliable coverage. Mesh networks can also be beneficial in households that contain multiple Wi-Fi devices – ideal for households where children play online video games or families who work from home.