What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Glossary of Network Terms  Glossary of Internet Terms

Local Area Network (LAN) - A system that links computers together to form a network, usually with a wiring-based cabling scheme. LANs connect personal computers and electronic office equipment, enabling users to communicate, share resources such as data storage and printers, and access remote hosts or other networks.

Due to newer and better hardware and software technologies, it has become cost effective for business to interconnect computer systems to form Local Area Networks (LANs). A LAN allows these systems to exchange information and share resources electronically, as opposed to the "sneaker net" approach.

The best network configuration for your organization is the one that will meet your business needs, both now and in the future.

The topology of LAN(s) which fits your business is determined in a number of ways.

Most LAN's consist of a star, ring or bus topology. With the star topology, all nodes are connected to a focal hub in a point-to-point manner. The hub's main function is to manage all transmissions.

With the ring arrangement, all nodes are connected by point-to-point links in sequential order to form a closed path. The bus topology has all nodes connected to a common transmission line with a controlling mechanism preventing any simultaneously transmission.

Each node has a unique address and is able to recognize and receive data when sent to its particular address. The communications between the hardware devices on the network is normally transmitted over an Ethernet or Token Ring network.

Ethernet is a broadcast (sent to all computers), high speed network operated at 10Mbps, 20Mbps, or 100Mps. Ethernet, by far, supports the largest number of hardware devices that can be attached directly to it, and connections are offered as standard equipment on most workstations.

The token ring is a sanctioned networking scheme by IBM. It operates at 2 speeds: 4Mbps and 16Mbps. Unlike Ethernet, the token ring is a base-band system (signal transmitted and received at the original frequency and is not imposed on a carrier). It combines both star and ring topologies and can attach up to 260 devices through each specially designed wiring hub.

Your cabling choice is essential to the success of your network. The proper installation of the correct media can result in years of trouble free operation. Coaxial cable was the traditional network medium, however, twisted pair (like phone cable) and fiber cables have quickly replaced coax as the most popular choice.

Two types of coax commonly used in Ethernet networks are Ethernet thick and thin. Thin Ethernet is used or provide the interface to the networking card. The maximum cable length segment is 607 feet. Thick Ethernet and fiber optic cables are mostly used as the backbone cabling that connects separate wiring hubs. The maximum cable segment distance with Thick Ethernet is 1640 feet.

The Ethernet system is designed to transmit through Ethernet thick and thin at 10Mbps. The new Level 5 twisted pair cable is able to transmit up to 100Mbps, if required. fiber optic cables are usually preferred because they can transmit more data at higher speeds, are electrically immune, and can easily be upgraded for future needs.

Since the data transmitted over LANs is becoming critical in daily business operations, it's considered the fourth utility. Research being done with superconductors and light-based computers will soon put the power of today's super computers on tomorrow's desk top.

-Simple Steps in Planning a Local Area Network (LAN):

Client Needs Analysis

A complete analysis of your current information systems, your network, and your objectives for the future is key to planning and designing your LAN. Understanding the nature of your business, your current information systems setup and your future short and long term computing objectives & other factors are relevant to your enterprise.

LAN Design

Presenting several alternative designs of laying out the wiring, LAN traffic patterns, LAN segments, backbones, as well as hardware and software is essential in making an intelligent technology decision.

Implementation

Providing a time-line chart, we share with you key steps involved in the installation, estimated installation time and the critical path, so that you understand and plan accordingly, to minimize down time.

Installation

On the scheduled date the technical staff will proceed with the installation and provide you with a periodic progress report.

PCNS is dedicated to implementing and servicing quality Local Area Networks to all its customers.