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220-1201 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Practice Question
A small business wants to connect two separate office buildings that are 150 meters apart, with no existing data cabling between them. They need a reliable, high-speed connection without running new cables. Which type of network should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is to confuse the typical scope of network types. While a wireless bridge can be used in various network types, the overall classification for connecting two buildings 150 meters apart is a LAN, not a MAN. MANs are for much larger, city-wide areas (typically several kilometers).
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
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Local Area Network (LAN)
A Local Area Network (LAN) is the most appropriate classification. While typically confined to a single building or a small campus, a LAN can be extended to connect two nearby buildings, such as those 150 meters apart, especially when using wireless bridges. This provides a reliable, high-speed connection without the need for new physical cabling. A MAN typically covers a much larger geographic area (several kilometers), and a WAN covers even larger distances. A PAN is for very short-range personal device connections.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is incorrect because it is designed for extremely short-range communication, typically within a few meters of an individual. Technologies like Bluetooth or NFC are characteristic of PANs, enabling devices such as headsets, smartwatches, or keyboards to connect to a single host. This limited range and purpose make a PAN entirely unsuitable for spanning 150 meters to connect two distinct office buildings.
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Local Area Network (LAN)
Why this is correct
Incorrect. A Local Area Network (LAN) is typically confined to a single building and cannot span 150 meters without cables or additional devices. While a wireless bridge could extend a LAN, the most appropriate network type is MAN.
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Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is designed for large geographic areas (e.g., cities, countries); a 150-meter link between two buildings is within metropolitan/campus scale, which is what a MAN classification covers, not WAN scale.
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Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is the most appropriate classification for connecting two separate office buildings located 150 meters apart. MANs are specifically designed to span distances greater than a typical LAN but less than a WAN, often covering a campus or metropolitan area. This scale allows for reliable, high-speed connectivity between buildings, frequently utilizing technologies such as fiber optic links or wireless bridges to establish the connection without extensive new cabling.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Types and Features
Key term
Local Area Network
A Local Area Network (LAN) connects computers and devices within a small physical area, such as a home, office, or school, allowing them to share resources like files, printers, and internet access.
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
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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.