What Is A Local Area Network?
A local area network, or LAN, is a network of connected computers in a room, building, or set of buildings. Local area networks have been around since the beginning of computer use. A LAN is defined as a user network whereby data is sent at high rates between people located relatively close to each other. LANs do not usually make use of leased communication lines, but only means of communication that are provided by the installer of the network. The Internet is a wide area network, or WAN, which is distinct from a LAN. In contrast to the term Internet, local area networks are often called intranets, though sometimes this term refers to a cluster of LANs associated with a particular company or organization but not connected to the larger Internet. A local area network uses a hub or router to connect computers together. The means of communication is the omnipresent Ethernet cable or wireless wi-fi technology. These technologies offer data transfer rates running between 10 to 10000 Mbit/s
A local area network (LAN) is a network used for connecting a business or organisation’s computers to one another. With a LAN, a concept that goes back to 1970, a company’s employees can: • Exchange information • Communicate • Access various services A local area network usually links computers (or resources such as printers) using a wired transmission medium (most frequently twisted pairs or coaxial cables) over a circumference of about a hundred metres. For larger spaces, the network is considered to be part of a network called a MAN (metropolitan area network), in which the transmission medium is better suited to sending signals over great distances. Hardware components of a local area network A local area network is made of computers linked by a set of software and hardware elements. The hardware elements used for connecting computers to one another are: • The network card: This is a card connected to the computer’s motherboard, which interfaces with the physical medium, meaning th
