Computer networks can be classified by considering following different aspects as the basis.
- The scale
- The connection method
- The functional relationship (Network Architectures)
- The network topology
The given below classifies the computer networks according to the above different basis.
The basis | Different categories | ||
Scale | Personal Area Network (PAN) | ||
Local Area Network (LAN) | |||
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) | |||
Wide Area Network (WAN). | |||
Connection method | Optical fiber | ||
Ethernet | |||
Wireless LAN | |||
Home PNA | |||
Functional | Active Networking | ||
Relationship | |||
(Architecture) | Client-server networking | ||
Peer-to-peer (workgroup) architectures | |||
Network topology | Bus network topology | ||
(Arrangement of components) | |||
Star network topology | |||
Ring network topology | |||
Mesh network topology | |||
Tree or Hierarchical topology | |||
Table 8- Classifications of Computer Networks
Classification of computer networks by scale
According to the Table 5 above, the networks can be classified into six classes abbreviated as PAN, LAN, MAN and GAN.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network that will be useful in communicating computerizes devices such as telephones and PDAs. Mostly, the PAN is communicated through wireless network technologies such as Wireless USB, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and IrDA. You may use PANs to communicate among the personal devices or you may connect even to higher level networks or to the internet.
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Figure 10- Personal Area Network