Type of networks

Network	Diagram (image)	Brief Description	Main components	Main difference with the rest	Benefits (at least 2)
Local Area Network		is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building using network media	Network Adapter, Network Medium, Cable Connectors, Power Supply, Hub/Switch/Router, Network Software.		Centralized backups, . Reduced operating costs, Universal access to business applications, Real-time insight into the business
Wireless LANs		A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method (typically spread-spectrum or OFDM radio), and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider Internet.	The mix of location based services and wireless LAN is creating many possibilities for improving security  and enabling location aware advertising .because of easier installation and mobility, home owners also are taking advantage of wireless LANS when connecting to broadband internet services		Installation speed and simplicity, reduce cost of ownership.
Personal Area Networks		A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computerized devices, including telephones andpersonal digital assistants. 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)	·       IEEE Terms Biomedical monitoring , Computer networks , Computer vision , Costs , Hardware , Personal area networks , Shape , User interfaces , Wearable computers , Wires ·       INSPEC o   Controlled Indexing Bluetooth , mobile computing , user interfaces , wearable computers o   Non Controlled Indexing TiltType , artifacts , electronic capabilities , metaphors , personal area networks , phicons , text input/output , wearable systems , wireless user interface components , wrist-mounted device
Metropolitan Area Network		A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs) using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link services to wide area networks (or WAN) and the Internet.
Wide Area Network		A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that covers a broad area (i.e., any telecommunications network that links across metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries) using private or public network transports.
Storage Area Network		A storage area network (SAN) is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices to the operating system.
Virtual Private Network		A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across public networks like the Internet. It enables a host computer to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if they were an integral part of the private network with all the functionality, security and management policies of the private network.
Virtual LAN		In computer networking, a single layer-2 network may be partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains, which are mutually isolated so that packets can only pass between them via one or more routers; such a domain is referred to as a Virtual Local Area Network, Virtual LAN or VLAN.