Campus Area Network ( CAN ) : Overview 2022 In USA

 

 

( kw : CAN )

What is a CAN?

 

 

CAN stands for Campus Area Network. As you can see from the name, this network was specifically created and used by educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities. CANs can be used in educational institutions but they are also useful for corporations and government agencies. Again, let’s take the example of educational institutions. The network spans multiple buildings and areas on campus. The connection is made by connecting multiple LANs via routers or switches.

 

 

How does it work?

 

 

Combining multiple LAN connections creates a huge joint connection that allows users to enjoy fast networking speeds. This is beneficial for everyone, from students to campus administrators. To be considered a CAN network, the network must be connected between buildings or departments within the same domain. CAN uses transmission media other than routers and switches. This includes optical fiber, copper plants, or Cat5 cabling.

 

 

It is evident that CAN has a greater coverage area than LAN. However, CANs are smaller networks than a Metropolitan Area Network that is located in a city or a Wide Area Network that spreads across countries and the globe. A CAN typically covers an area of approximately 1-5 km. A CAN’s ability to use both a wired or wireless network is another distinguishing characteristic. SUNet, a Stanford University project that uses CAN to promote adoption, is one of the most well-known examples.

 

 

Campus Area Networks can also be implemented by corporations, as they are used to link critical buildings and staff members. These networks are created using high-quality Ethernet links based upon optical fiber, such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Wi-Fi hotspots, hot zones and gigabit Ethernet technology are other options for accessing the network. A great example of corporate adoption is Google’s GooglePlex, which mirrors the example of educational institutions.

 

 

Explains Campus Area Network

 

 

CANs have their own data exchange media and shared network devices in most cases. These are the benefits of CAN:

• Cost-effective
• Wireless, versus cable
• Multidepartmental network access
• Single shared data transfer rate (DTR).

 

These are some examples of CAN implementations.

 

• Stanford University’s SUNet network
• Project Athena by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

 

Infrastructure of the CAN: LANs can be interconnected within a restricted area using Switches or Routers. This allows for buildings to be connected to each other on a single campus. All resources such as wiring, switches, hubs, routers, etc., are owned by the organization. They use the same technologies as Local Area Network, but interconnection is only possible between buildings. The optical fiber media used to connect campus networks is called Fiber optics. It takes advantage of 10-Gigabit Ethernet technology. Wi-Fi hotspots, or hot zones, are two different methods of accessing the network.

 

 

The Benefits of CAN:

 

Cost-effective solutions

 

 

There are many benefits to adopting CAN. Its primary benefit is its ability to reduce costs, making it a cost-effective solution that can be used by educational institutions. Because cabling and wiring accounts for a large portion of the network maintenance and establishment budget.

 

Wireless connectivity makes it possible to create a Campus Area Network. This eliminates the need for expensive wiring and cabling, which can result in significant cost savings for educational institutions. It is beneficial to know how to cut costs by choosing the right network, as most educational institutions are not profit-driven and are often government-operated. Institutions and organizations are increasingly looking for network experts to provide them with the best solutions.

 

Wireless, multi-department and fast

 

The ability of a CAN to function as a wireless network means that network transmissions are smoother and easier. Multi-department access is also possible with CANs. This is especially useful for educational institutions that may have many buildings and departments, such as libraries, academic buildings, student centers, residence halls and conference centers. Because the network is local, CANs allow for faster transfer speeds than sharing files via the internet.

 

 

Network security has been improved

 

Noting here is also important that Campus Area Networks are safer and more reliable than traditional networks. It is completely maintained and managed by the IT department at the campus. The IT team is experienced and can implement measures to fix recurring problems or improve network performance. These procedures include installing firewalls to ensure network accessibility and protect it against external threats.

 

 

Because sensitive data can be accessed by universities, institutes and even organizations, it is important to protect against external threats like hacking. The network administrator can monitor and control its use and even apply proxy servers to restrict the internet and ports that users have access to. This requires knowledge and expertise in network management. Network training is an easy way to get this information.

 

 

This article focuses on Campus Area Networks, one of the most popular network types. The art of managing, operating, and deploying networks requires serious skill. This skill can only be acquired through extensive training. QuickStart provides extensive, comprehensive courses on networks that are taught by network specialists. These courses are designed to help network professionals and those who want to build a career in the field of networking.

 

 

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Disadvantages

 

These are the disadvantages of CAN:

• It cannot support a maximum number nodes.
• Because of electrical loading, it can only connect up to 64 nodes.
• Maintenance of a CAN is more expensive than other networks such as LAN, SAN and WAN.
• It can support up 40 meters in length
• Interactions between nodes can be undesirable.

 

Examples

 

Below are the locations where the CAN can be used.

 

• School campus
• University campus
• It is often used in large organizations and industrial sites.
• It can also be used in automobile applications.