Computer network

A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers.

Computer networks may be categorized with respect to range:

personal area network (PAN)
- wireless PAN
local area network (LAN)
- wireless LAN
metropolitan area network (MAN)
wide area network (WAN)
(Tiny area network (TAN)

Computer network applications may be categorized with respect to the functional relationships between components:

Computer networks may be categorized with respect to network topologies

Computer networks may be categorized with respect to specialised functions

Storage Area Networks
Server farms

Computer networks may be implemented using a variety of protocol stack architectures, computer buses or combinations of media and protocol layers, incorporating one or more of:

For a list of more see Network protocols

For standards see IEEE 802.

References

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, "Computer Networks" (ISBN 0133499456).