easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) for Campus Connectivity
A hospital needs to connect multiple buildings across a large campus to share patient records and imaging data. The network must be private, high-speed, and cover the entire campus. Which network type should be implemented?
Quick Answer
The answer is a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), because it is specifically designed to connect multiple buildings across a campus or city-sized area with private, high-speed links, making it ideal for sharing patient records and imaging data across a hospital campus. A MAN bridges the gap between a Local Area Network (LAN), which is confined to a single building, and a Wide Area Network (WAN), which spans cities or countries, offering the necessary coverage and performance for this scenario. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to match network types to physical scope and use cases; a common trap is confusing a MAN with a WAN due to the word “metropolitan,” but remember that a MAN covers a campus or city, not a region. For a quick memory tip, think “MAN = Metro Area = Multiple buildings on one campus,” and contrast it with “WAN = Wide = World or country.”
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that a LAN can cover a campus, but the key distinction is that a LAN is limited to a single broadcast domain within one building, while a MAN is required for multiple buildings across a campus-sized area.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is the correct choice because it is designed to interconnect multiple locations across a city or large campus, providing private, high-speed connectivity. In this scenario, the hospital requires a network that spans beyond a single building but is confined to a campus-sized area, which fits the MAN scope. Technologies like Metro Ethernet or MPLS can deliver the necessary bandwidth for sharing patient records and imaging data securely.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Local Area Network (LAN)
Why it's wrong here
A LAN typically covers a single building or floor, not a large campus with multiple buildings.
- ✗
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A WAN is used for connecting sites across cities or countries, which is overkill and may introduce latency for a campus.
- ✓
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why this is correct
A MAN is ideal for connecting multiple buildings within a campus or city, providing high-speed private connectivity.
- ✗
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why it's wrong here
A PAN is for short-range connections between personal devices, not for an entire campus.
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Connectivity
Key term
Metropolitan Area Network
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network that connects multiple locations across a city or large campus, providing high-speed communication like a single large network.
Key term
Multiprotocol Label Switching
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a data-carrying technique that uses short path labels instead of long network addresses to route packets quickly and efficiently across a WAN.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A school district with five elementary schools spread across a city needs to connect each school's LAN to a central data center for internet access and shared resources. Which network type should connect the schools to the data center?
medium- A.Local Area Network (LAN)
- B.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- ✓ C.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
- D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to interconnect multiple LANs across a city or metropolitan region, typically using high-speed fiber optic links such as Metro Ethernet or SONET/SDH. This makes it the ideal choice for connecting five elementary schools spread across a city to a central data center, as it covers a larger geographic area than a LAN but is more localized than a WAN.
Variation 2. A company is expanding its office to a new building 5 kilometers away and needs to connect the two LANs so employees can share files and access the same servers as if they were in one location. They want a dedicated, high-speed connection without using the public internet. Which network type should be implemented?
medium- A.Local Area Network (LAN)
- B.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- ✓ C.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
- D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to interconnect multiple LANs across a city or metropolitan region, typically up to 50 km, using dedicated fiber optic links such as Metro Ethernet or SONET/SDH. This provides the high-speed, private connection required without traversing the public internet, making it ideal for connecting two offices 5 km apart.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.