LAN’s MAN’s and WAN’s There are many different types of network topologies, but the three most common types are LAN’s, MAN’s, and WAN’s. The LAN topology is probably the most common of the three. The MAN and WAN topologies are used but not nearly as much as the LAN topology is, although the WAN is starting to be used more and more because of the growing population of networks.The LAN (Local Area Network) is used so much because it is used in small areas. Small businesses use LAN’s a great deal because they are small and they wouldn’t need a WAN or a MAN because there business is usually ran out of one or maybe two buildings. You will usually find LAN’s in buildings, schools, and even in homes at times. Some buildings even have multiple LAN’s in them for certain purposes. When designing the layout of a LAN, the party can choose from a selection of different technologies on which to base the main part of their LAN. The technology choices that the party adopts will be a critical part in the way their LAN performs. Two important LAN setups are a network based on Ethernet or Token Ring technology. Besides operating in a small space, LANs have some other distinctive features. LANs are typically owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization.A WAN (wide area network) goes across large physical distance. Many times a WAN will go almost around most of the world! The most popular WAN is the Internet. The Internet is one big huge WAN and it is also the most used WAN. A WAN is basically a dispersed collection of LAN’s. A network tool called a router connects LAN’s to a WAN. WAN’s are different from LANs in many very important ways. Like the Internet, most WAN’s are not owned by any one organization but somewhat exist under collective or distributed ownership and management. There are many WAN’s in the United States but there...
