Network Technology uses data systems to handle as well as deliver digital resources through a computer network. To maintain a network in industries, they use computer system hardware and software, but specialists are required to handle them. A network is used to transfer the data in between networked infrastructures efficiently.
To check whether a system is working correctly or not, network administrators are required to handle as well as troubleshoot the issues that occurred within the network once they occur to reduce precious downtime. This article discusses an overview of network technology, types, and their working.
What is Network Technology?
Network technology describes the ideas on which any system is structured & can be applied to any network depending on transmission and stairs. Network technology allows the data exchange between small &large information systems which are utilized by mainly institutions and companies. So, network technology is used to exchange and transmitting data.
For installing, configuring, and troubleshooting the network, network specialists like engineers are accountable to transmit digital data like visual, audio data files. & data files. Using these networks, clients can transmit messages, data & files through e-mail otherwise other channels through Internet connections based on the requirements of an organization.
Types of Network Technology
There are two types of network technology based on transmission and scale.
Types of Network Technology
Based on Transmission
The network technology based on transmission can be classified into two types like point to point and multipoint.
Point-to-Point
When nodes in the network are connected directly, then data transmission can be done using a guided medium intended for the wired network. Similarly, the data can be transmitted through an unguided medium intended for wireless medium. The simple point-to-point network technology is shown below.
Multi-Point
The connection of several nodes can be done directly linearly using a common medium is known as multi-point. It is similar to a single device to several device modes for data transmission. The multi-point network describes a multi-point technology that is utilized in computer networks.
The multi-point transmission concept mainly works on two connections either time sharing or spatially shared. In the connection of time-sharing, every node can be offered an independent time slot for communicating whereas in the connection of spatially shared, at a time all the nodes can be communicated.
Based on Scale
The network technology based on the scale is classified into different types like LAN, MAN, VAN, PAN & VPN
LAN
The term LAN stands for Local area network. It is an IEEE 802 network that includes different devices like computers, mobiles, laptops which are connected jointly in a small range that ranges are from 100m -10KM. The elements of LAN include peripheral devices like printers, scanners, NIC, HUBs, cables, nodes/computers/host/PC/workstation/ server.
MAN
The term MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. In this network, multiple LANs are connected using a networking device which is named a Bridge to form a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network).
WAN
The term ‘WAN’ stands for “wide area network”. In this type of network, several Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs are combined jointly using a networking device namely Router to form a WAN (Wide Area Network). These networks are classified into two types like public WAN and private WAN. The elements of WAN are router, bridge, gateway, etc.
- Public WAN can be handled by different departments of government.
- Private WAN was developed through the Department of US Military Defence wing known as ARPANET.
PAN
The term PAN stands for personal area network which is mainly used for personal purposes. This network can be formed through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi to share data.
VPN
The term VPN stands for virtual private network, which is established on the public network for transmitting and communicating data from node to node. If a user has VPN access then he can send data secretly without limits.
WLAN
The WLAN stands for wireless local area network. This network works similar to a LAN but WLAN uses wireless network technology like Wi-Fi. The applications of this network are similar to LAN but these networks don’t need the devices which rely on cables to unite to the network.
CAN
A network like CAN stands for Campus Area Network. As compared to LANs, these networks are larger, however smaller than MAN. These networks are normally used in large schools, universities, small businesses, etc. These can be extended across numerous buildings which are quite close to each other so that users can transmit resources.
SAN
SAN or storage area network is a high-speed network, used to connect storage devices to different servers. SANs don’t rely on other networks like LAN/WA but, they can shift storage resources away to situate them into their high-performance network.
SANs can be accessed in the same way as a drive connected to a server. These networks are classified into different types like converged, unified SANs & virtual.
EPN
The network-like EPN stands for Enterprise Private Network. These networks are designed as well as owned by businesses to connect their different locations securely to divide computer resources.
POLAN
The term POLAN stands for Passive Optical Local Area Network. This network is an alternative to the usual Ethernet LANs based on a switch.
POLAN is used in structured cabling to conquer worries about supporting traditional Ethernet protocols & network applications like Power over Ethernet. A POLAN & LAN architecture based on point-to-multipoint utilizes optical splitters to divide an optical signal from single-mode optical fiber to several signals to serve customers & devices.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The advantages of network technology include the following.
- It is very flexible
- Not expensive
- Improve the capacity of storage
- It enhances communication as well as the accessibility of data
- Files sharing are very easy
- It is used to share resources conveniently
The disadvantages of network technology include the following.
- It requires an efficient engineer to operate
- An exclusive setup is required
- It allows malware and viruses.
- It forms security difficulties.
Please refer to this link to know more about Network Protocol, Network Nodes & Network Devices.
Please refer to this link to know more about Network Devices MCQs, LIFI MCQ’s & Mobile communication MCQ’s.
Thus, this is all about an overview of network technology, types, advantages, and disadvantages. This technology uses data systems for managing & to deliver digital resources on a computer network. In industries, this technology is used to maintain a network but needs engineers or specialists to manage them. Here is a question for you, what is a node in a computer network?