Types of Networks

LANs Systems
LANs do exhibit outmoded associations, and routers or controls with ability to employ straddling tree procedure and closely linked to techniques of recovering from links that have failed. Local Area Networks have connections to other LANs through routers and leased lines to create a WAN. The LANs transmission methods include unicast, Multicast and broadcast. The components of a LAN include; cables, interface cards, Network devices (workstations, printers, file servers), Network communication devices (hubs and repeaters).
Features of LANs
LANs are usually confined to a limited geographic area.
LANs can be small but can link hundreds of computers used by thousands of people.
Development of typical set of connections procedures as well as media leading to global propagation of Local Area Networks in business and educational organizations.
WAN systems
A WAN is a data communication arrangement that with a comparatively wider coverage in terms of location using broadcasting amenities endowed with by ordinary delivery service, for example companies offering telephone services (Vacca, 2001).
Characteristics of WANs
Kind of systems that utilizes routers and associations communications deemed to be public
TCP or IP are used to deliver the carrying and addressing utilities
Advantages of a peer to peer network
Less initial expense
The operating system in existence only calls for reconfiguration to support peer to peer operation.
Drawbacks associated with peer- to- peer network
The files and applications can not be centralized.
The network has no proper security.

Advantages of a client/server network
The server has control over files and security of the whole network.
It easily allows for the integration of new technological advancements.
The server can easily be accessed from a remote station.
Disadvantages of the client /server network
The initial expenses required to set up the network are very high.
The large type of network involved requires the maintenance services from the technical staff.
The whole system mainly depends on the server which makes the whole system vulnerable in case of a server failure.

The recommended network for the Sterling Company is the client-server network. This network has centralized operation which can easily allow access to the resources and the shared applications by different stations but simultaneously (Madhulika & Madhurima, 2009).