The IEEE standards range from 802.1, which is internetworking to 802.16, which denotes Wireless Broadband Networks IEEE (2002). .
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LANs are addressed in IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and operate at speeds of 10Mbps up to 10Gbps; this is known as 10Base. There are different types of topologies (physical layout) these include, Star, Bus, Ring and Mesh. A Bus network is an interconnection of nodes along a single cable; each node is connected to the main cable via a T-connection. Bus networks function by allowing only one machine to transmit at a time. The allocation of a time slot to transmit has to be controlled by the means of software. IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) uses CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/ Collision Detection), which allows the transmission of packets (data) by nodes simultaneously; if packets collide they can be resent after an allotted waiting time Halsall (1996 p.280). .
Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) Tanenbaum (2002 p.18) are networks that cover areas up to around fifty Kilometres. MANs are used for high data transmissions e.g. cable television and the University of Birmingham's MidMAN network.
Amato and Lewis (2000 p.121) argue that EIA/TIA (Electrical Industries Association/ Telecommunication Industry Association) allow multi-vendor products to be used in following the standards laid down in EIA/TIA-568. The standards for UTP category 5 cables was established in 1992 and cover cabling connectors such as RJ45's. UTP uses copper cables and can transmit up to100Mbits/sec; the cable can be affected by cross talk (electrical interference) and maximum recommend length is 100 Metres. In high-speed connections fibre optic cables are used, examples of this are T3 digital lines Dodd (2000 p.67).
Wide Are Networks (WAN) Tanenbaum (2002 p.19) can cover large physical areas, which can span continents. WANs are connected by the means of a telecommunications link, which is known as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
