An Overview of Local Area Networks (LANs)

Duane Chambers
3 min readMay 2, 2021

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In order for Ethernet LANs to be beneficial, there must be at least three elements present: network, switches and routers. When considering the design of an Ethernet LAN, one should first consider the physical layout of the network and then proceed to the logical aspects. It is best to lay out a logical layout first before going any further. For instance, a virtual private network has all the advantages of an Ethernet LAN without the physical constraints. A virtual private network connects to a main frame on a local area network, or LAN, via wireless LANS technology.

Ethernet Local Area Networks is gaining popularity because of their many benefits and lower costs than traditional broad area networks (BANs). A logical diagram of an Ethernet LAN with wireless LANS topology. With the use of WAN software, a WAN can connect to a Local Area Network of several computers. A LAN consists of a router, various network adapters, and a local area network. A Local Area Network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a defined area such as a home, office, school or library.

There are several different types of Ethernet Local Area Networks and each has its own pros and cons. Some of the most popular Local Area Networks are: Wireless LANS, Wi-Fi, and token ring networks. A wireless LAN connects to a main frame on a LAN, either via a wired Ethernet connection or wireless SSIDs. WANs usually include a WAN adapter, WAN router, wireless access point and wireless security appliance. Some examples of wireless LANS are: AT&T’s iControl 16 and Verizon’s FiOS TV. Other networking vendors, such as Infoblox, provide a variety of core networking service capabilities to help you manage local area networks across an enterprise.

A wireless router connects a Local Area Network to a backbone. The backbone is another computer network. A Local Area Network is set up like a conventional LAN but has its own security procedures, which needs to be implemented by each LAN user. One can set up a Local Area Network for testing purposes or for connecting a laptop to the internet without the need of a dedicated wired connection.

Exactly, what is a LAN? Local Area Networking (LAN) was derived from the term Local Area Networking (LAN). In order to be classified as a LAN, a technology must support the functions of the following: Identification, Access, Congestion, Synchronization, and Transfer. Based on these protocols, a Local Area Network has different features, such as Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), wireless service, and Digital Phone Network (DCPN). These features provide the basic functionality that users of a Local Area Network may want.

An Ethernet card or a wireless card is used to establish a Local Area Network. The card or wireless device links with the computer and creates a Local Area Network. A Local Area Network has a router or a switch along with several computers in a Local Area Network. Usually, the computers in a LAN are referred to as LANS or LAN nodes. A Wide Area Network, on the other hand, has one LANS node and several neighbor LANS nodes.

There are many benefits of having a Local Area Network. For one, it helps prevent information overload as long as the number of users is well-planned. Another important advantage of having Local Area Networks is that it helps establish a unified infrastructure for conducting business operations, even within the same geographical area. This brings down costs, especially for businesses that have outlets spread over a large area. Some major advantages of having Local Area Networks include:

Although a Local Area Network has some disadvantages, it has many advantages. One major disadvantage of a Local Area Network is that it can suffer from data loss if the area is covered by walls or buildings. In this case, the network will only be in operation as long as the building is standing. It can also suffer from the failure of the main access point. One way to avoid these problems is to choose a specific network service provider that has advanced protection against such issues.

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Duane Chambers
Duane Chambers

Written by Duane Chambers

I provide advisory services for corporations and executives regarding network architecture, test design/execution, network virtualization and datacenter design.

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