MANs

Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are networks that connect LANs together within a city.

The main criterion for a MAN is that the connection between LANs is through a local exchange carrier (the local phone company). The protocols that are used for MANs are quite different from those used for LANs (except for ATM, which can be used for both under certain conditions).

Examples of MAN protocols are:

• RS­232, V­35

• X.25 (56kbps), PADs

• Frame Relay (up to 45 Mbps), FRADs

• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

• ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) PRI and BRI

• Dedicated T­1 lines (1.544 Mbps) and Fractional T­1

• T­3 (45 Mbps) and OC­3 lines (155 Mbps)

• ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) ­ up to 8 Mbps

• XDSL (many different types of Digital Subscriber Lines)

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