The Man Network

The Man  Network

The concept of network , which comes from the Latin word rete , has several uses and meanings. It is correct to say that almost all its meanings are linked to the structure that has a characteristic pattern .

Network, therefore, is used in computing to name the set of equipment (such as computers ) connected together so that they can share resources , servicesand information .

There are several ways to classify a network: according to its scope, its functional relationship or the connection method , for example. In the first category (networks according to its scope), we can find the notion of network MAN .

MAN is the acronym for the Metropolitan Area Network, which can be translated as the Metropolitan Area Network. A MAN network is one that, through a high-speed connection, offers coverage in a large geographical area (such as a city or a municipality).

With a MAN network it is possible to share and exchange all types of data (text, videos, audio, etc.) using optical fiber or twisted pair cable. This type of network is an evolution of the LAN ( Local Area Network or Local Area Network ), as it encourages interconnection in a wider region, covering a larger area. On the other side is the WAN ( Wide Area Network or Wide Area Network ), which allows the interconnection of countries and continents.

The MAN networks can be public or private. These networks are developed with two unidirectional buses, which means that each one acts independently of the other regarding the transfer of data. When optical fiber is used, the error rate is lower than if copper cable is used, provided that two networks of equal dimensions are compared. It is worth mentioning that both options are safe since they do not allow reading or altering their signal without physically interrupting the link.

Among the uses of MAN networks , we can mention the interconnection of dispersed offices in a city but belonging to the same corporation, the development of a municipal video surveillance system and the deployment of VoIP services.

The acronym VoIP can be read in several ways, such as "Voice over Internet Protocol", "Voice over IP" or "Voice over IP" and it is a set of resources that make it possible to send the voice signal through of the Internet making use of an IP. In other words, if a MAN network is used to provide VoIP services, it is possible to make a communication similar to the telephone one but sending the information in digital data packets , instead of using the analog telephone networks, such as the PSTN ( "Public switched telephone network").

Advantages of the MAN network over the WAN network

* once the purchase of the necessary equipment and the installation of the network has been made, the maintenance costs of a MAN are considerably lower than those of a WAN network. One of the reasons for this difference is that in a MAN network it is possible to anticipate the maximum number of simultaneous users at all times and control it;

* offers greater security and protection of data and the integrity of systems;

* is more suitable for traffic that does not need to be assigned a fixed bandwidth;

* Width band offered is higher.

Potential disadvantages

* Due to legal and political issues, certain users may be forced to opt for a public MAN network instead of a private one;

* its scope, although very wide, does not exceed 50 km in diameter, so it may not be ideal in all cases.