Networking

The following list presents categories used for classifying networks.Computer networks can also be classified according to the hardware and software technology that is used to interconnect the individual devices in the network, such as Optical fiber,Ethernet,Wireless LAN, HomePNA, Power line communication or G.hn.Ethernet uses physical wiring to connect devices. Frequently deployed devices include hubs, switches, bridges andor routers.Wireless LAN technology is designed to connect devices without wiring. These devices use radio waves or infrared signals as a transmission medium.

ITU-T G.hn technology uses existing home wiring coaxial cable, phone lines and power lines to create a highspeed up to Gigabits local area network.Networks are often classified as Local Area Network LAN, Wide Area Network WAN, Metropolitan Area Network MAN Personal Area Network PAN, Virtual Private Network VPN,Campus Area Network CAN, Storage Area Network SAN, etc. depending on their scale, scope and purpose.

Usage, trust levels and access rights often differ between these types of network - for example, LANs tend to be designed for internal use by an organization's internal systems and employees in individual physical locations such as a building, while WANs may connect physically separate parts of an organization to each other and may include connections to third parties.Computer networks may be classified according to the functional relationships which exist among the elements of the network, e.g., Active Networking, Clientserver and Peertopeer workgrouparchitecture.Main article: Network topology.


Computer networks may be classified according to the network topology upon which the network is based, such as bus network, star network, ring network, mesh network, starbus network, tree or hierarchical topology network. Network topology signifies the way in which devices in the network see their logical relations to one another. The use of the term "logical" here is significant. That is, network topology is independent of the "physical" layout of the network.
Even if networked computers are physically placed in a linear arrangement, if they are connected via a hub, the network has a Star topology, rather than a bus topology. In this regard the visual and operational characteristics of a network are distinct; the logical network topology is not necessarily the same as the physical layout. Networks may be classified based on the method of data used to convey the data, these include digital and analog networks