Computer Networks Basics

 $$
Networks can be divided into the following four categories based on their sizes and the geographic distances they cover:
1
Wide area network (WAN); a WAN connects a large number of computers that are spread over large geographic distances. It can span sites in multiple cities, countries, and continents.
2
Metropolitan area network (MAN); the MAN is an intermediate level between the LAN and WAN and can perhaps span a single city.
3
Local area network (LAN); a LAN connects a small number of computers in a small area within a building or campus.
4
System or storage area network (SAN); a SAN connects computers or storage devices to make a single system.


Table 1: Data Rate, Switching Method, and Routing Scheme for Interconnection Networks.
Interconnection Switching Routing
Ethernet Packet Table-based
Fast Ethernet Packet Table-based
Gigabit Ethernet Packet Table-based
Myrinet Wormhole Source-path
Quadrics Wormhole Source-path
Infiniband Packet Source-path



Subsections
Cem Ozdogan 2010-12-20