LAN vs WAN
LAN stands for Local Area Network and WAN stands for Wide Area Network.
WAN's can be expensive. They can also be slow.
Comparison chart
| Improve this chart | LAN | WAN |
|---|---|---|
| Definition: | LAN (Local Area Network) is a computer network covering a small geographic area, like a home, office, schools, or group of buildings. | WAN (Wide Area Network) is a computer network that covers a broad area (e.g., any network whose communications links cross metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries over a long distance |
| Speed: | high speed(1000mbps) | less speed(150mbps) |
| Data transfer rates: | LANs have a high data transfer rate | WANs have a lower data transfer rate as compared to LANs |
| Example: | Network in an organization can be a LAN | Internet is a good example of a WAN |
| Technology: | Tend to use certain connectivity technologies, primarily Ethernet and Token Ring | WANs tend to use technology like MPLS, ATM, Frame Relay and X.25 for connectivity over the longer distances |
| Connection: | one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves | Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites |
| Components: | layer 2 devices like switches, bridges. layer1 devices like hubs , 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 a smaller amount of systems to deal with. | WANs tend to be less fault tolerant. as it consists of a large amount of systems there is a lower amount of fault tolerance. |
| 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 (like the Internet) 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 | In this case since networks in remote areas have to be connected hence the set-up costs are higher. However WANs using public networks can be setup very cheaply, just software (VPN etc) |
| 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 |
| Maintenance costs: | Because it covers a relatively small geographical area, LAN is easier to maintain at relatively low costs. | Maintaining WAN is difficult because of its wider geographical coverage and higher maintenance costs. |
| Bandwidth: | High bandwidth is available for transmission. | Low bandwidth is available for transmission |
| Geographical Area: | Lan covers 100 m | Wan covers more than 100 m |
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