What is the fundamental distinction between a MAN and a WAN?

1 answer

The fundamental distinction between a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) and a WAN (Wide Area Network) lies in the geographic scope and coverage of each network.

1. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): A MAN covers a smaller geographic area, typically within a single city or metropolitan region. It interconnects various local area networks (LANs) and serves as an intermediary between LANs and wide area networks (WANs). It enables communication and data sharing within a specific urban or suburban area.

2. Wide Area Network (WAN): A WAN, on the other hand, spans a larger geographic area, often covering multiple cities, states, or even countries. It connects multiple MANs, LANs, or other networks across vast distances. WANs are designed to provide long-distance communication and data transmission capabilities for organizations with distributed locations.

In summary, the main distinction between a MAN and a WAN lies in the geographic coverage they provide, where MANs cover a smaller metropolitan area, while WANs cover larger area encompassing multiple cities or regions.