- A
Local area network (LAN)
Why wrong: A LAN typically covers a single building, not multiple buildings across 5 km.
- B
Metropolitan area network (MAN)
Why wrong: A MAN covers a city (often 10+ km), which is larger than the 5 km campus.
- C
Campus area network (CAN)
A CAN interconnects LANs within a campus-sized area, exactly matching this scenario.
- D
Wide area network (WAN)
Why wrong: A WAN connects geographically distant locations, often across cities or countries.
Question 645 of 1,020
Campus Area Network (CAN) for University Buildings
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network types. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: campus area network (CAN). Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is configuring a network for a university campus that has multiple buildings spread across a 5-kilometer area. Each building has its own LAN, and they all need to be interconnected to share resources. Which network type best describes the overall campus network?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Quick Answer
The answer is a campus area network (CAN). This is correct because a CAN is specifically designed to interconnect multiple local area networks (LANs) across a limited geographic area, such as a university campus or corporate park, where the total distance—like the 5-kilometer span described—remains smaller than a metropolitan area network (MAN) but larger than a single LAN. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish network types by scale; a common trap is confusing a CAN with a MAN, but remember that a MAN typically covers a city (10–100 km), while a CAN stays within a campus boundary. For a quick memory tip, think “CAN = Campus, not City”—if the buildings are all on one property, it’s a CAN.
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
✓
Campus area network (CAN)
A campus area network (CAN) is specifically designed to interconnect multiple LANs within a limited geographic area, such as a university campus or corporate park. With buildings spread across 5 kilometers, the network fits the CAN scope, which typically spans up to 10 km and uses high-speed backbone links like Gigabit Ethernet or fiber optics to connect the individual LANs.
Key principle: Campus area network (CAN)
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, not multiple buildings across 5 km.
- ✗
Metropolitan area network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A MAN covers a city (often 10+ km), which is larger than the 5 km campus.
- ✓
Campus area network (CAN)
Why this is correct
A CAN interconnects LANs within a campus-sized area, exactly matching this scenario.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Campus area network (CAN)
- ✗
Wide area network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A WAN connects geographically distant locations, often across cities or countries.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The distinction between CAN and MAN can be tricky because the distance (5 km) might seem large, but a CAN is limited to a single campus or site, while a MAN connects multiple sites across a city.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A CAN typically uses Layer 2 switching with VLANs to segment traffic across buildings, often employing protocols like Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) for redundancy and link aggregation (LACP) for increased bandwidth. In real-world deployments, fiber optic cabling (single-mode or multimode) is run between buildings, and routers at the CAN edge handle inter-VLAN routing, while the entire network remains under a single administrative domain, unlike a WAN which involves multiple administrative entities.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Campus area network (CAN)
- Metropolitan area network (MAN)
- Local area network (LAN)
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Campus area network (CAN)
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Campus area network (CAN) Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review campus area network (CAN), then practise related 220-1201 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Network Types — This question tests Network Types — Campus area network (CAN).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Campus area network (CAN) — A campus area network (CAN) is specifically designed to interconnect multiple LANs within a limited geographic area, such as a university campus or corporate park. With buildings spread across 5 kilometers, the network fits the CAN scope, which typically spans up to 10 km and uses high-speed backbone links like Gigabit Ethernet or fiber optics to connect the individual LANs.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review campus area network (CAN), then practise related 220-1201 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Campus area network (CAN)
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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