2017-11-30
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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.
Figure 10- Personal Area Network
