Network Group work

LAN- (Local Area Network) - is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. By definition, the connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive (e.g., token ring or Ethernet).

•   On a LAN, we expect to share files, programs, or printers, all without being particularly aware of where the physical resources we're using are actually located. Most of the University of Mauritius departments are on LANs

MAN(Metropolitan Area Network) - is a larger network that usually spans several buildings in the same city or town. The University of Mauritius network is an example of a MAN. 

  A WAN (wide area network) - in comparison to a MAN, is not restricted to a geographical location, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A WAN connects several LANs, and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or accessible to the public. The technology is high speed and relatively expensive. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN.




A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computer devices, including telephones and personal digital assistants, in proximity to an individual's body. The reach of a PAN is typically a few meters. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices themselves (intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher level network and the internet (an uplink).

A wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of spatially distributed autonomous sensors to cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, vibration, pressure, motion or pollutants.

•   They are used in industrial process monitoring and control,  home automation machine health monitoring, environment and habitat monitoring, healthcare applications, and traffic control.

•   Specific applications include habitat monitoring, object tracking, nuclear reactor control, fire detection, land slide detection and traffic monitoring. In a typical application, a WSN is scattered in a region where it is meant to collect data through its sensor nodes.

Intranet- It is a private computer network that uses I/P technologies to securely share any part of an org's(Organization’s)information or Network Operating System within that org.  

• The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between orgs, and also refers to a network within an org. Sometimes the term refers only to the org's internal website, but may be a more extensive part of the org's information technology infrastructure. It may host multiple private websites and constitute an important component and focal point of internal communication and collaboration 
• Example; For the MCB website, the intranet is restricted only to MCB employer only, even if they are at home, they can access the system by means of username and password.

 Extranet- It is a private network that uses I/P, network connectivity. An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company, usually via the internet.  

• It has also been described as a "state of mind" in which the Internet is perceived as a way to do business with a selected set of other companies (business-to-business, B2B), in isolation from all other Internet users. In contrast, business-to-consumer (B2C) models involve known servers of one or more companies, communicating with previously unknown consumer users.  
• Example; For MCB website, the extranet is restricted to MCB clients only with means of username and password. (For e.g. Internet Banking)

VPN- A virtual private network  allows you to temporarily create or join a private network across an existing public network by creating an encrypted tunnel between two hosts. This tunnel allows you to transfer information securely and to access remote resources.  

• Secure VPNs use cryptographic tunneling protocols to provide confidentiality by blocking intercepts and packet sniffing, allowing sender authentication to block identity spoofing, and provide message integrity by preventing message alteration.