LAN vs WAN

What is LAN?

• LAN stands for Local Area Network.
• It is a small network covering small areas like room, offices, a building etc.
• LANs are run under Ethernet which is a protocol that controls how data is transferred between one machine to another on the network.
• To connect two computer you can link them using a cable.





• If you want to connect more than one devices then you need a special device called hub.
• To connecting a LAN to the internet or a wide area network than router is needed instead of hub.

Why do we use LAN?

• For faster communication and sharing of files and other resources.
• Centralization of information system.
• LAN allow expensive hardware to be shared.
• LAN allow users to share software licences for uniformity and cost saving.

Requirement for setting up a LAN?

• Computers and devices equipped with the proper NIC (network interface card).
• A control device such as hub, router, bride or gateway.
• Connecting cables in case of LAN is wired.
• LAN management software. Modern operating system already have utility software for proper management of networks.

What is WLAN?

• WLAN stands for wireless local area network, it is a type of LAN.
• It provides wireless local area network communication over short distances using radio or infrared signal instead of traditional network cabling.
• WLAN can be build using wireless network protocol like bluetooth, wifi etc.
• It is difficult to manage if number of devices is increases.

What is WAN?

• Stands for Wide Area Network.
• It is a communication network that spans a large geographical area such as across cities, states, countries etc.
• WAN also link multiple smaller networks together including LAN or MAN.
• It is used to transmit data over long distances and between different LAN, MAN and other localized computer networking architecture.
• WAN can be developed using internet VPN, X.25 protocol, frame relay, MPLs, using leased lines etc.

LAN vs WAN

Parameter	LAN	WAN
Stands For	Local Area Network	Wide Area Network
Covers	Local areas only (eg- homes, offices, schools)	Large geographic areas (eg- cities, states, nations)
Speed	High speed (1000 mbps)	Less speed (150 mbps)
Data transfer rates	LANs have a high data transfer rate.	WANs have a lower data transfer rate compared to LANs.
Technology	Tend to use certain connectivity technologies, primarily Ethernet and Token ring.	WANs use technologies like MPLS, ATM, frame relay and X.25 for connectivity over longer distances.
Connection	One LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves.	Computers connected to a WAN network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system, leased lines or satellites.
Components	Layer 2 devices like switches and bridges. Layer 1 devices like hubs and repeaters.	Layers 3 devices routers, multi-layer switches and technology specific devices like ATM or frame-relay switches etc.
Fault Tolerance	LANs tend to have fewer problems associated with them, as there are smaller number of systems to deal with.	WANs tend to be less fault tolerant as they consist of large number of systems.
Data Transmission Error	Experiences fewer data transmission errors.	Experiences more data transmission errors as compared to LAN.
Ownership	Typically owned, controlled, and managed by a single person or organization.	WANs are not owned by any one organization but rather exist under collective or distributed ownership and management over long distances.
Set-up costs	If there is a need to set-up a couple of extra devices on the network, it is not very expensive to do that.	For WANs since networks in remote areas have to be connected the set-up costs are higher.
Geographical Spread	Have a small geographical range and do not need any leased telecommunication lines.	Have a large geographical range generally spreading across boundaries and need leased telecommunication lines.
Bandwidth	High bandwidth is available for transmission.	Low bandwidth is available for transmission.

Congestion
Less congestion
More congestion

My notes