What Is a Local Area Network?
A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that spans a small geographical area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings. A LAN can be as simple as two PCs connected together with an Ethernet cable, or as complex as a multimillion-dollar system that connects thousands of computers and other devices spread over a large area.
How Does a LAN Work?
Computers and other devices on a LAN can be connected using either wired or wireless technology. A wired LAN uses Ethernet cables to connect devices, while a wireless LAN uses radio signals to communicate. Devices on a LAN can also be connected using a variety of other methods, such as power line communication or optical fiber.
Most LANs are designed to allow devices to communicate with each other and share resources, like printers and files. To do this, each device on the LAN must have a network adapter installed. A network adapter is a piece of hardware that allows a device to connect to the network.
What Are the Benefits of a LAN?
There are many benefits to using a LAN, including improved communication, increased security, and increased performance.
A LAN allows devices to communicate with each other more easily than if they were not on a network. For example, you can use a LAN to share files and printers with other users on the network.
A LAN can also help to increase security by allowing you to control who has access to your network and what they can do. Aside from that, a LAN can help to improve performance by allowing you to more easily use resources that are available on the network, such as file servers.
What Are the Disadvantages of a LAN?
There are some disadvantages to using a LAN, as well. For example, a LAN can be more expensive to set up than a direct connection between two devices. A LAN can also be more difficult to configure and manage than a direct connection.
On top of the above, a LAN can be less secure than a direct connection, as it is possible for unauthorized users to gain access to the network.
