Question

Difficulty: MediumNetwork Types and Topologies

A network administrator is classifying various network deployments based on their geographic scope and architectural purpose. Match each network classification on the left with its corresponding deployment scenario on the right.

  • Personal Area Network (PAN)Connecting a smartphone to a smart watch and wireless earbuds using short-range wireless protocols.
  • Storage Area Network (SAN)Connecting enterprise database servers directly to block-level disk arrays over a dedicated Fibre Channel fabric.
  • Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)Linking multiple municipal government buildings distributed across a single city over dedicated fiber lines.
  • Wide Area Network (WAN)Interconnecting corporate headquarters with international branch offices across continents using leased telecommunication lines.

Answer

Personal Area Network (PAN) matches connecting a smartphone to personal wearable devices; Storage Area Network (SAN) matches connecting servers to block-level storage arrays over Fibre Channel; Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) matches linking municipal buildings across a city; Wide Area Network (WAN) matches interconnecting international corporate offices across continents.
Each network classification corresponds directly to its operational scale and intent: PAN handles short-range personal devices, SAN provides block-level server storage, MAN spans municipal city environments, and WAN connects long-distance global locations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the scope of short-range personal device communication.
Connecting personal peripherals like smart watches within arm's reach defines a Personal Area Network (PAN).
PAN technology is designed specifically for short-distance individual device pairing.
2
Analyze high-speed server-to-storage architecture requirements.
Block-level access between database servers and disk storage fabrics defines a Storage Area Network (SAN).
SANs isolate storage traffic from local client network traffic using specialized storage protocols.
3
Evaluate the geographic boundaries spanning across a single city.
Connecting multiple facilities across a municipal area corresponds to a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).
MAN boundaries explicitly cover city-wide infrastructure, bridging the gap between local campus networks and global networks.
4
Identify long-distance inter-continental connections.
Connecting global corporate offices over telecommunication lines defines a Wide Area Network (WAN).
WAN infrastructure handles long-haul communication across countries and continents.

Key Concept

Network Types and Geographic Scopes (PAN, SAN, MAN, WAN)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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