How to select suitable one among available technology for small networking

A network is a set of devices or nodes connected by communication links. A node can be a computer, printer or any other device capable of sending and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the network. Depending on size major three types of network are popular. They are Local Area Network, Wide Area Network and Metropolitan Area Network.

A Local Area Network is usually privately owned and links the devices in a single office, building or campus.

A Wide Area Network provide long-distance transmission of data, image, audio and video information over large geographic areas that may comprise a country, a region etc.

A Metropolitan Area Network is a network with a size between a LAN and WAN. It normally covers the area inside a town or city. It is designed for customers who need a high-speed connectivity, normally to the internet and endpoints spread over a city or part of a city.

This work is to connect two or more computer in such a way, they can share files and folders, share internet, play games online, can send file and can communicate. Size of the network is not more than a building. There by it has been named as small networking. So Local Area Network (LAN) is enough in size. A LAN can cover several building, even a neighborhood. But that is larger estimate and I will discuss it in later posts.

For installing a Local Area Network 3 types of communication technology available in the market. They are 
1. LAN card with twisted-paired-cable, 
2. Bluetooth and 
3. Wireless LAN card.

Table below shows the comparative advantage and constrains of LAN (with twisted-paired-cable), Bluetooth and Wireless LAN.

 

	LAN (with twisted-paired-cable)	Bluetooth (Class 1)	Wireless LAN
Cost of device	$3 or built-in	$3 or built-in	$10
Cost of media	$0.25/meter	0	0
Cost of switch	$5	-	$40
Transfer rate	5 -10 MBPS	64 - 128 KBPS	1-7 MBPS
Range with/with out repeater/hub/switch	100 meter	10 meter	300 meter
Portability	Not portable	easy	easy

 

In a Local Area Network people need to transfer gigabytes of data such as application software, movie, game, documents. Distance between computers is more than 10 meter because star or cascading star is the only way. For a network in developing country like Bangladesh hardware must be as cheap as people can afford. Thereby LAN card with twisted-paired-cable is the proper technology to apply for small networking. But for developed countries like USA, JAPAN, EUROPE and middle-east reliability and comfort is the main issue. In this case wireless LAN is preferable. because it is easy to install, no pain of loose weir or jack plug unplug and portable within the range of device.