What is a campus network?
A campus network, also known as a campus area network, is a proprietary local area network (LAN) or set of interconnected LANs in a small geographic area. A typical campus includes a set of buildings in close proximity, such as a government agency or university. End users are more geographically dispersed than in a LAN, but aren't as scattered as in a metropolitan area network or wide area network.
Optical fiber media is the typical connectivity option that interconnects the nodes in a campus network, taking advantage of gigabit Ethernet. In some cases, Wi-Fi hotspots make up the user end of the network. A common example of this is university student centers or libraries, where numerous people simultaneously use portable and mobile devices to conduct research and communicate.
Types of campus networks
College and university campus networks interconnect all buildings associated with the institution in a specific town or neighborhood. This includes administrative buildings, residence and academic halls, libraries, student centers and athletic facilities.
Corporate campus networks interconnect buildings that house key departments and staff members. It forms the user-facing aspect of a larger corporate network in a limited geographic area.
Government agencies also use campus networks. These can be municipal office complexes or military bases.
A campus network sometimes also refers to geographically diverse internet users with a common interest. Examples of this include the following:
- The Roosevelt Institute. A national student initiative.
- The International Sustainable Campus Network. A forum that supports colleges, universities and corporations in their quest for sustainable research and teaching.
- The Welcome Campus Network. A coalition that helps American higher education institutions in supporting refugees from around the world.
