Local Area Network (LAN) –
LAN or Local Area Network connects network devices in such a way that personal computers and workstations can share data, tools, and programs. The group of computers and devices are connected together by a switch, or stack of switches, using a private addressing scheme as defined by the TCP/IP protocol. Private addresses are unique in relation to other computers on the local network. Routers are found at the boundary of a LAN, connecting them to the larger WAN.
Wide Area Network (WAN) –
WAN or Wide Area Network is a computer network that extends over a large geographical area, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A WAN could be a connection of LAN connecting to other LANs. In its simplest form, a wide-area network (WAN) is a collection of (LANs) or other networks that communicate with one another. A WAN is essentially a network of networks, with the Internet the world's largest WAN.
Today, there are several types of WANs, built for a variety of use cases that touch virtually every aspect of modern life.
What are the advantages of a LAN?
The advantages of a LAN are the same as those for any group of devices networked together. The devices can use a single Internet connection, share files with one another, print to shared printers, and be accessed and even controlled by one another.
LANs were developed in the 1960s for use by colleges, universities, and research facilities (such as NASA), primarily to connect computers to other computers. It wasn't until the development of Ethernet technology (1973, at Xerox PARC), its commercialization (1980), and its standardization (1983) that LANs started to be used widely.
While the benefits of having devices connected to a network have always been well understood, it wasn't until the wide deployment of Wi-Fi technology that LANs became commonplace in nearly every type of environment. Today, not only do businesses and schools use LANs, but also restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and homes.
Wireless connectivity has also greatly expanded the types of devices that can be connected to a LAN. Now, nearly everything imaginable can be "connected," from PCs, printers, and phones to smart TVs, stereos, speakers, lighting, thermostats, window shades, door locks, security cameras--and even coffeemakers, refrigerators, and toys.
Transferring files data and shared application throughout a company sounds complex. Simplify the function of sophisticated file transfers with a Local Area Network.
Benefits
- Network any number of computers
- Wired and Wireless LANs
- Ease of Installation
- Mobility
- Ease of troubleshooting
- Scalability
- Rapid deployment
Features
- Low initial cost
- Low interference
- High level of security
- Tried and tested technology
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