A MAN is what it sounds like: a network that serves metropolitan areas, as opposed to personal area networks, which serve you and your immediate surroundings, and wide area networks, which cover entire countries or even continents. The essential difference between these three types of networks, besides size, is speed.
Introduction
A metropolitan area network, or MAN, is the backbone of the next generation of broadband networks. It's a term often used interchangeably with metro area network or local area network. A MAN usually refers to an infrastructure that covers an entire metropolitan region and provides high-speed data transfer and voice transmission over fiber optic cables.
This type of network can be used by large organizations and small businesses alike. There are three primary types of MANs: aerial, underground, and underwater.
Underground MANs use existing pipes such as water or gas pipelines to carry the signal from one point to another.
Underwater MANs require laying cable on top of water and installing optical instruments at each end of the connection. Aerial MANs generally use microwave radio signals to connect two points on opposite sides of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or river.
With this type of setup, it's important to make sure there is a line of sight between the two antennas in order for it to work properly. If there is any obstruction like mountains or trees in between them then it will result in a loss in quality or no connection at all.
The distance these signals travel vary depending on their frequency range which falls into one of two categories; high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF).
HF has better penetration but VHF travels farther distances. Different frequencies have different applications so there are also different uses for these connections.
For example, while a business may use an aerial MAN to transmit information across town, they might also rely on a subterranean network to provide communication within their facility.
As telecommunications technology continues to evolve and change the landscape of how we live our lives, so too does our understanding of what a MAN is and what it can do.
Managed service providers, who offer additional services such as data center hosting and cloud computing solutions, have already begun to develop extensive networks throughout the world.
Eventually new technologies will allow us to run even more complex programs off of individual computers without having to rely on massive systems.
Businesses are constantly being pushed forward thanks to new developments in networking and telecommunication systems. We hope you enjoyed learning about MANs!
MAN Components
A metropolitan area network, or MAN, is a type of high-speed network that links multiple metropolitan areas to one another. They are often used in urban areas and can be used for various types of communication.
These networks typically connect major buildings in the same city with one another, such as office buildings and department stores.
A company might use a metropolitan area network to allow computers within their building to communicate with one another, while also having access to the internet.
Public utilities may also use these networks in order to send data about electricity grids across large distances without causing interference. Hospitals sometimes have a metropolitan area network set up so that doctors can share patient information amongst each other, and if necessary, transfer it to patients’ homes.
In general, metropolitan area networks are much faster than traditional wide area networks because they work on shorter ranges.
However, there are exceptions depending on the size and geographical location of the two metropolitan areas involved.
For example, if one metro area was much smaller than another but was closer to it, then a metropolitan area network would take less time to get from one end to the other than a traditional wide area network would. On the other hand, if two metros were located close together but one was significantly larger than the other, then a metropolitan area network would still work much quicker than a traditional wide area network. The opposite could also happen where one metro is much larger than the other, but not as close to it. With this scenario, the traditional wide area network will likely function more quickly due to its increased range.
A metropolitan area network does not rely on a central node like an Ethernet does. Instead, MANs usually have what's called an interconnection point, which transfers data back and forth between different points in the system.
Advantages of a MAN
A metropolitan area network, or MAN, is a local area network that covers an entire metropolitan area. This type of network offers benefits such as centralized management, remote access to data and equipment, and low construction cost.
One disadvantage is the difficulty in recovering from node failure; this can be solved with redundant cabling, hardware, and software configurations.
The use of fiber-optic cables allows for more channels to be available within the same amount of space. There are two types of fiber optics: single mode and multi-mode.
Single mode transmits over greater distances while multi-mode requires shorter distances. With a single mode connection, you can transmit up to 100 kilometers while multi-mode only needs 1 kilometer.
The advantage with single mode is that it provides greater security because it has higher light intensity than multimode. And it can easily penetrate through the water layer into deep oceans. So, if you want to install something on a submarine, single mode would be your best choice. Multi-mode would not work underwater. But just like any other cable technology, there are disadvantages too.
The first is signal attenuation which means loss of signal strength when going through long distances. You need amplifiers to boost the signal. Another problem is multipath interference which happens when a signal bounces off of structures before reaching its destination point.
It causes what appears to be echoes on the line and this disrupts communication between nodes. Fiber optic networks also have high latency which can cause transmission delays during busy hours so it’s better suited for office work but not real-time applications like gaming or videoconferencing.
To remedy this issue, some providers may offer Internet service on demand where speeds increase after business hours. However, most providers offer packages that include unlimited bandwidth at specific speeds. Users should read their contracts carefully to make sure they know exactly what they're paying for.
Disadvantages of a MAN
-Larger area: MANs can cover an entire metropolitan area, while WANs typically cover only one location or region.
-Costly: MANs are more expensive to set up and maintain than WANs.
-Slow speeds: It's much slower to send data across long distances via a MAN than it is over shorter distances. You might also have to pay for the high-capacity links needed for longer distances as well.
One way of mitigating this is by segmenting your MAN into smaller local networks that connect different parts of the network.
For example, you might have a metro Ethernet network that connects all the buildings in your office complex with high-speed connections and then another metropolitan Ethernet network that connects all the buildings in your city using lower-speed connections.
The advantage of this setup is that if one connection fails, traffic automatically reroutes through the other connection. The disadvantage is that when a new building needs to be added later on, it has to be connected to both metropolitan Ethernet networks, which may require running additional cabling and paying for higher-cost connections.
Metro Ethernet is most commonly found in densely populated areas where there's a lot of data traffic--typically downtown business districts where lots of companies need access.
A MAN often doesn't make sense for organizations whose employees are scattered throughout an entire country because setting up enough metro Ethernet networks would be prohibitively expensive and slow down communication between distant regions too much.
Similarly, MANs are not ideal for organizations whose needs change frequently; they're best suited to businesses that don't want their connectivity options limited to a single provider. They're also best suited to any company with locations within a very small geographical area. The most obvious example of these companies is cellular phone providers, who need to provide service coverage everywhere.
So it's no surprise that a number of them offer both wired and wireless solutions within metropolitan areas. If you happen to live in an area where your mobile phone company provides wireline service as well, you can save money on installation costs since some providers will run fiber optic cable from the nearest central office all the way back to your house.
Conclusion
A MAN provides access to high-speed broadband and internet services. This can be especially beneficial for areas that are more rural, where there may not be cable or DSL service available.
A metropolitan area network uses fiber optic cables to provide the fastest possible connection speeds, which means you can download movies in seconds and send large files in minutes.
It's perfect for businesses who need fast data rates . And, it's cheaper than installing new DSL lines since no electric power is required. In conclusion, a MAN offers an easy way to get high-speed internet access with minimal effort.
If you have any questions about your particular situation please call us at: 1-800-555-1234 . A MAN offers an easy way to get high-speed internet access with minimal effort.
If you have any questions about your particular situation please call us at: 1-800-555-1234 . We're here to help!