Connectivity

LAN

Local Area Network or commonly abbreviated as LAN is a network system of interconnected computers all in one area/location. For example a small business or a school/college uses a LAN to run the computer system. Now with the ability to use local area networks over a larger distance, they are used in many different towns or cities; it all depends on who is using the system. In the home, wireless routers are used which are also known as LAN networks. These wireless routers can have from five to ten wireless devices connected to them at once. The router also allows up to four devices connected by cable. This is either to share broadband or by ADSL connection which is an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A LAN network can be as small as two computers connected with one cable. It all depends on the size of the organisation. Larger organisations use larger LAN’s which are carefully looked after to make sure that the network information is delivered to each system efficiently. Switches and Routers are used to expand the size of the network in organisations. When a network is created sub-networks are added to make sure that a greater level of control is created in order for it all to work effectively.

WAN

Wide Area Network or commonly abbreviated as WAN is a network which is more complicated and complex than a LAN or Local Area Network. Some Wide Area Networks are two Local Area Networks connected together but from a distance. Not only is it two LAN’s but it can also be a large organisation with many networks all connected. Clacton County High School is an example of a Wide Area Network because it is an infrastructure provided by an education authority or it is a joint academic network; this is also abbreviated as JANET.  Another example of a WAN is the World Wide Web or the internet, although the internet is managed by lots of different organisations privately, it is classed technically as a WAN. Because the internet is a WAN, this allows people to communicate via one common system. There are many different Wide Area Network technologies. These include frame relay, ATM which is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode and MPLS which is a Multiprotocol Label Switching.  These are all important pieces of technology which help make up the Wide Area Networks and help keep them running.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a different form of network made for devices at close range of 10 metres to 100 metres, file sharing, music transfer to headphones and internet sharing from mobile devices can all be done over Bluetooth. It is on most consoles now and mobile phones have this. It is all done wireless. It is like the improved version of infrared.

GPRS
GPRS or General Packet Radio Service is a packet which is used on the 2G and 3G cellular communication systems. This is also know as Wireless General Packet Radio Service because no wires are used to connect the mobile phones to 2G or 3G. GPRS on mobile phones charges per every minute you are active for which means you are billed for every minute your on-line. 2G provides 56kb/per second and 3G provides a higher connection rate.

WAP
WAP or Wireless Application Protocol as it is also know is a way of accessing information over a mobile device. For example using the internet on a mobile phone. Mobile phones were never able to access Facebook or live sports updates or emails etc but now nearly every single mobile phone can get on the internet or use the internet to download apps.

WiFi
WiFi is the name of a type of technology which allows people to connect to the internet wirelessly. It uses radio waves in order to connect high speed to the internet. When it was first introduced it used 2.4 GHz of the 802.11b standard. WiFi is also known as WLAN, which stands for Wireless Local Area Network.