Introduction to Computer Networks

Definitions of:

1. LAN: A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link. Typically, connected devices share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building).

2.MAN:A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is one of a number of types of networks (see also LAN and WAN). A MAN is a relatively new class of network, it serves a role similar to an ISP, but for corporate users with large LANs. There are three important features which discriminate MANs from LANs or WANs.

3. WAN: wide area network (WAN) is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network. The term distinguishes a broader telecommunication structure from a local area network (LAN). A wide area network may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of public (shared user) networks. An intermediate form of network in terms of geography is a metropolitan area network (MAN).

4.PAN: A personal area network (PAN) is the interconnection of information technology devices within the range of an individual person, typically within a range of 10 meters. For example, a person traveling with a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable printer could interconnect them without having to plug anything in, using some form of wireless technology. Typically, this kind of personal area network could also be interconnected without wires to the Internet or other networks.

5.VPN:VPN is a private network that uses a public network (usually the Internet) to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased line, a VPN uses "virtual" connections routed through the Internet from the company's private network to the remote site or employee. In this article, you will gain a fundamental understanding of VPNs, and learn about basic VPN components, technologies, tunneling and security.

6.CAN: Is a high-integrity serial data communications bus for real-time control applications.
Operates at data rates of up to 1 Mega bits per second.
Has excellent error detection and confinement capabilities
Was originally developed for use in cars
Is now being used in many other industrial automation and control applications
Has an OSI session layer known as Time Triggered CAN (TTCAN)
Has a sub-bus known as the Local Interconnect Network (LIN)
CAN is documented in ISO 11898 (for applications up to 1 Mega bits per second) and ISO 11519 (for applications up to 125 K bits per second)

7. SAN: Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-speed subnetwork of shared storage devices. A storage device is a machine that contains nothing but a disk or disks for storing data.
­