Common Types of Networks

Question 1

What does the term internet mean?

Answer 1

“network of networks”. It is a collection of interconnected private and public networks.

Question 2

What are the two most common types of network infrastructures?

Answer 2

Local Area Networks (LANs), and Wide Area Networks (WANs)

Question 3

What is a LAN?

Answer 3

• A LAN is a network infrastructure that provides access to users and end devices in a small geographical area.
• A LAN is typically used in a department within an enterprise, a home, or a small business network.

Question 4

What is a WAN?

Answer 4

A WAN is a network infrastructure that provides access to other networks over a wide geographical area, which is typically owned and managed by a larger corporation or a telecommunications service provider.

Question 5

What are some LAN characteristics?

Answer 5

• LANs interconnect end devices in a limited area such as a home, school, office building, or campus.
• A LAN is usually administered by a single organization or individual. Administrative control is enforced at the network level and governs the security and access control policies.
• LANs provide high-speed bandwidth to internal end devices and intermediary devices

Question 6

What are some WAN characteristics?

Answer 6

• WANs interconnect LANs over wide geographical areas such as between cities, states, provinces, countries, or continents.
• WANs are usually administered by multiple service providers.
• WANs typically provide slower speed links between LANs

Question 7

What does intranet mean?

Answer 7

• a private connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an organization.
• An intranet is designed to be accessible only by the organization’s members, employees, or others with authorization.

Question 8

What does extranet mean?

Answer 8

• An organization may use an extranet to provide secure and safe access to individuals who work for a different organization but require access to the organization’s data. Here are some examples of extranets:
  
  • A company that is providing access to outside suppliers and contractors
  • A hospital that is providing a booking system to doctors so they can make appointments for their patients
  • A local office of education that is providing budget and personnel information to the schools in its district