Types of Computer Network

Types of Computer Network

There are several different types of computer networks. Computer networks can be characterized by their size as well as their purpose.

On the size of a network

The size of a network can be expressed by the geographic area they occupy and the number of computers that are part of the network. Networks can cover anything from a handful of devices within a single room to millions of devices spread across the entire globe.
Some of the different networks based on size are :
• Personal area network, or PAN
• Local area network, or LAN
• Metropolitan area network, or MAN
• Wide area network, or WAN

On the terms of purpose

In terms of purpose, many networks can be considered general purpose, which means they are used for everything from sending files to a printer to accessing the Internet. Some types of networks, however, serve a very particular purpose. Some of the different networks based on their main purpose are:
• Storage area network, or SAN
• Enterprise private network, or EPN
• Virtual private network, or VPN