AREA NETWORKS

One way to categorize the different types of computer network designs is by their scope. For historical reasons, the networking industry refers to nearly every type of design as some kind of area network. Common examples of area network types are:

• LAN - Local Area Network
• WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
• WAN - Wide Area Network
• MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
• SAN - Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network
• CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area Network
• PAN - Personal Area Network
• DAN - Desk Area Network

LAN and WAN were the original categories of area networks, while the others have gradually emerged over many years of technology evolution.

These network types are a separate concept from network topologies such as bus, ring and star.

A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A networked office building, school, or home usually contains a single LAN, though sometimes one building will contain a few small LANs 

A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. A network device called a router connects LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address.

WLAN - A LAN based on WiFi wireless network technology.

MAN - A network spanning a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city. A MAN is typically owned an operated by a single entity such as a government body or large corporation.

CAN - A network spanning multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as on a university or local business campus.

SAN [Storage Area Network] - Connects servers to data storage devices through a technology like Fibre Channel.

SAN [System Area Network] - Links high-performance computers with high-speed connections in a cluster configuration. Also known as Cluster Area Network.