Need for LAN
Local Area Network technology has a variety of uses. Local Area Networks are primarily used for communication. Local Area Networks simplify the task of communicating over distances as seen in office buildings, college campuses, universities and much more. Communication costs are negligible when communicating using the Local Area Network.
The second important factor necessitating use of Local Area Network is sharing of system resources. A system connected to the Local Area Network can be a server, used by many PC’s. Devices such as printers can be shared through the Local Area Network. Applications placed in a particular computer connected to the Local Area Network can be shared by other computers on the Local Area Network. Such resource sharing makes system resources more available to users needing them. It cuts costs of using such resources as they need not be duplicated.
Local Area Networks
A typical Local Area Network connects computers systems over short distances as seen in office buildings and school campuses. This simple connection structure can expanded to form different types of Local Area Networks. Here is a look at what these are:
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – This network is larger than the typical Local Area Network. The network area covered is a city or a county.
Campus Area Network (CAN) – This network is smaller than the MAN. It consists of multiple Local Area Networks. The network area covered here is a university or business campus.
System Area Network – This network connects high-performance systems in a customer formation. It is also referred to as Cluster Area Network
Storage Area Network - This network connects storage devices together.
Wide Area Network - This network connects geographically dispersed Local Area Network s using routers.
Wireless Local Area Network – This network connects computer systems through WiFi. In other words, connections are wireless.
Local Area Networks can be implemented through network providers, who specialize in setting up and implementing Local Area Networks.
Wireless Local Area Network
When Local Area Network connections are made using wireless radio as the connectivity medium, the Local Area Network becomes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The Wireless Local Area Network is governed by the IEEE 802.11 set of standards. Wireless Local Area Network can be in the form of Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMAN) or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN). The main benefit in using WLAN is that it helps people on the move to get connected to their office network or the internet, without the need of cables for connectivity.
One point to be noted in the use of WLANs is that the broadcast wireless signal can be accessed by anyone close to the broadcast. Security steps should be implemented so that only those authorized to use the WLAN get the signal.
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