What is a Local Area Network – LAN?

Computer networks are fundamentally categorized in accordance with their usage and the distance they cover. Different types of computer networks are given below:

1. LAN - Local Area Network

2. WAN - Wide Area Network

3. MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

4. PAN - Personal Area Network

We have discussed all these types of computer network one by one in our next articles; read: What is Wide Area Network – WAN?, What is Metropolitan Area Network – MAN? and PAN - Personal Area Network. However for current article; we have chosen Local Area Network (LAN) to go through. Before we explore more interesting facts about LAN, let’s begin with the brief Introduction:

1. LAN - Local Area Network

It is one of the most well known computer networks that connect multiple computers in a small area i.e. the area could be a small building; a room; or a particular department possessing more than one computer to be connected over the network.

In a Local Area Network; each connected computer is considered as a node and these nodes are connected through the network using physical wires. However wireless LAN is also used that uses no physical wire.

Data transmission rate in Local Area Network is very fast i.e. the transmission speed is typically 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps which is much faster than the transmission over telephone line. Thus data sharing and transmission over a Local Area Network is quite efficient and convenient.

Example of Local Area Network

Examples always help understanding or idealizing the necessary facts. LAN setup can be determined by following two examples.

Example 1: You have certainly seen computer labs in your schools where about 40 to 50 computers have been connected through a network. The network used there is a Local Area Network so that the students can share software, important files and other useful resources while using different computers.

Example 2: An Internet Club which is consisted of many computers; can connect these computers through LAN. Thus a single connection of Internet is shared by all the computers saving a lot of money instead of getting separate Internet connection for every computer there.

Advantages of connecting computers to a Local Area Network

Lots of advantages are there we can achieve from a Local Area Network, however we have described a few advantages of LAN network below:

• Resource sharing in LAN

One of the most appreciable advantages of this type of computer network is resource sharing so that expensive hardware devices can be shared by several computers at a particular department or building. Many business organizations and educational institutions are setting up a Local Area Network especially for achieving this benefit.

• Communication through LAN

Basically; what is LAN used for? Like all other networks, LAN is also established and installed for communication purposes. However, the communication range of this type of computer network is not as vast as that of WAN. Large organizations and offices require individual computers to communicate with each other; placed in their departments or buildings. Thus communicating, the employees can share data and information and can also transfer notifications to several computers at a time without facing any inconvenience. For a particular institution to work successfully; communication among the workers or employers is essential component. Thus every organization needs to establish a reliable network so that the employers working together can share their ideas with each other.

• Sharing of application in LAN

It might be very costly to buy a separate licensed copy of same software of each computer. Instead a lot of money can be saved if different computers at a particular place can share software connecting over a reliable Local Area Network. In this way; the costly software applications can be shared by different computers in order to maintain the budget.

• Centralized IT Admin

Several computers connected through LAN are managed by a server. IT administrator can remotely troubleshoot the problems on computers across the network.

• Internet Access Sharing using LAN

Connecting individual computers over Internet is very expensive however; a less costly and efficient strategy can be used by connecting multiple computers over network to share the Internet connection.

• LAN provides data security and management

User's official documents can be managed and secured adequately using LAN. It becomes terrible managing the information scattered among different computers but it's no more a big deal when the data is centralized on shared servers through LAN. Everyone can find the data easily.

Disadvantages of Local Area Network

Some of the factors make this type of computer network quite unfavorable for the users. Some people resist using LAN just because of the following disadvantages:

• LAN Privacy Threat

This type of network is utilized by various organizations to connect the computers in a particular building or office. This connection may cause privacy threat. In case the network administrator access personal files of users; the data can be controlled illegally.

• LAN is expensive to install

Generally, LAN is setup to manage budget by sharing expensive resources and software applications. However; initial cost of installation of a Local Area Network might be very high. The cables, network cards and software are costly. Moreover service of a technician is required for installation purposes as well.

• Admin Time is Required

The appropriate maintenance of network requires time as well as expertise. For that purpose; a network administrator may be required to manage network accurately.

• Data security concerns in LAN

LAN can put critical data on risk if the data is not secured properly. The unauthorized users can access important data and damage it.