LAN
From TPU Reference
lilicoel
Local Area Networks
Are a collection of connected computers and their associated peripherals within a specific geographically defined location. This location varies depending on the use of a network.
In a home network, the Local Area Network may be confined to several rooms or a simple connection between two floors. A business or government institution on the other hand may involve the use of a Local Area Network that spans the whole building or several buildings across a single block of land. Nevertheless LAN's are generally small in terms of definition.
Advantages There are many advantages of utilizing a Local Area Network, these include:
⢠The sharing of resources across a network. Such as printers, storage devices and internet access.
⢠Enhancing work efficiency by running the same programs or applications across the network for more than one person to use.
⢠Improved communication between users in terms of socialization and data transmission.
⢠The ability to play Counter Strike and PWN your friends!
⢠Speedier and easy way of transferring files when the Local Area Network already exists.
⢠Generally more secure and safe than the internet, which is a Wide Area Network (WAN).
⢠Higher data transmission rates than wide area networks.
⢠Does NOT require regular fees for the lease of lines from Internet Service Providers.
Disadvantages Local Area Networks also possess several disabilities:
⢠Local Area Networks may not be cost effective across larger spans.
⢠Privacy may be invaded by others when adequate security is not employed to prevent people accessing your file storage.
⢠Drilling and other wall destructive activities may need to occur in order to run cables.
⢠Technical knowledge is required to set up and maintain networks and their devices.
Hardware
Hardware involved in Local Area Networks generally includes network cabling, network cards, routers, switches and hubs.
Network Cards - Regardless of whether a network card exists, or if it is integrated functionally into a motherboard, any and all computers or terminals operating on a network require some kind of network card. Network cards, or their mainboard inbuilt cousins are basically a physical interface between the motherboard and the network cable that is used to connect the computer or terminal to other devices on the network.
Routers and switches - Routers are central to the network in that they form junctions at which each device in the network can connect. As a result of this configuration, routers are designated as devices charged with forwarding packets of data received from connected computers or terminals to a pre-determined network address that belongs to another device or computer.
Although they are similar, switches perform a more distinct networking function in that they link segments of the network together. For example, two buildings side by side exist, each with 5 computers and a printer. In each building a router connects all of these devices in the same structure, however, for one device to communicate with another device in the other building data must travel between routers. As a result a switch is put inbetween these routers, and data is transferred from one side of the network through the switch to the other side. When a switch is employed, IP addresses are not used, MAC addresses instead designating where the data is to be sent. These MAC addresses describe the location of a network adapter, such as the network card of a computer.
