Local Area Network - Definition and Overview

A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office or small group of buildings such as a college. The topology of a network dictates its physical structure.

The generally accepted maximum size for a LAN is 1000m². LANs are different from personal area networks (PANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) or wide area networks (WANs). LANs are typically faster than WANs.

The earliest popular LAN, ARCnet, was released in 1977 by Datapoint and was originally intended to allow multiple Datapoint 2200s to share disk storage. Like all early LANs, ARCnet was originally vendor-specific. Standardization efforts by the IEEE have resulted in the IEEE 802 series of standards. There are now two common wiring technologies for a LAN, Ethernet and Token Ring. Wireless technologies are starting to evolve and are convenient for mobile computer users.

When using Ethernet the computers are usually wired to a hub or to a switch. This constitutes the physical transport mechanism.

The Spanning tree protocol is often used to maintain a loop free network topology within a LAN, particularly with ethernet.

A number of network protocols may use the basic physical transport mechanism including TCP/IP. In this case DHCP is a convenient way to obtain an IP address rather than using fixed addressing. LANs can be interlinked by connections to form a Wide area network. A router is used to make the connection between LANs.

See also

• Wardriving
• SOHO network
• Campus area network
• Metropolitan area network

Readings

Charp, S. (Ed.). (1994). Networking & telecommunications. "T.H.E." ("Technical Horizons in Education"), 21(10). (EJ 483 802-807)

Charp, S. (Ed.). (1995). Networking & telecommunications. "T.H.E." ("Technical Horizons in Education"), 22(9). (EJ 501 732-735)

Communications, computers, and networks. (1991). [Special Issue.] "Scientific American," 265(3).

Ellis, T. I. (1984). "Microcomputers in the school office. ERIC Digest." Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Education Management. (ED 259 451)

Klausmeier, J. (1984). "Networking and microcomputers. ERIC Digest." Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources. (ED 253 256)

Neubarth, M. (Ed.). (1995, October). The Internet in education. [Special issue]. "Internet World," 6(10). (ERIC ED pending, IR 531 431-438)

Rienhold, F. (1989). "Use of local area networks in schools. ERIC Digest." Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources. (ED 316 249)

External Links

• Local Area Networks for K-12 Schools (http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-3/local.htm)
• Use of Local Area Networks in Schools. (http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9214/local.htm)
• Microcomputers in the School Office (http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-922/office.htm)

See also: CHAOSnet, DECnet, Wireless LAN, null modem.