internet.com
You are in the: Small Business Computing Channelarrow
Small Business Technology
» ECommerce-Guide | Small Business Computing | Webopedia | WinPlanet |Refer-It
Webopedia.com
Enter a word for a definition... ...or choose a computer category.
 
 

menu
   Home
   Term of the Day
   New Terms
   Pronunciation
   New Links
   Quick Reference
   Did You Know?
   Categories
   Tech Support
   Technology Jobs
   About Us
   Link to Us
   Advertising

   rss/xmlrss/xml  

Become a Marketplace Partner



talk to us
   Submit a URL
   Suggest a Term
   Report an Error

internet.com
IT
Developer
Internet News
Small Business
Personal Technology
International

Search internet.com
Advertise
Corporate Info
Newsletters
Tech Jobs
E-mail Offers
commerce
  Be a Commerce Partner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

local-area network
Last modified: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 

A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves. A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN).

Most LANs connect workstations and personal computers. Each node (individual computer ) in a LAN has its own CPU with which it executes programs, but it also is able to access data and devices anywhere on the LAN. This means that many users can share expensive devices, such as laser printers, as well as data. Users can also use the LAN to communicate with each other, by sending e-mail or engaging in chat sessions.

There are many different types of LANs Ethernets being the most common for PCs. Most Apple Macintosh networks are based on Apple's AppleTalk network system, which is built into Macintosh computers.

The following characteristics differentiate one LAN from another:

  • topology : The geometric arrangement of devices on the network. For example, devices can be arranged in a ring or in a straight line.
  • protocols : The rules and encoding specifications for sending data. The protocols also determine whether the network uses a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.
  • media : Devices can be connected by twisted-pair wire, coaxial cables, or fiber optic cables. Some networks do without connecting media altogether, communicating instead via radio waves.
  • LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much faster than data can be transmitted over a telephone line; but the distances are limited, and there is also a limit on the number of computers that can be attached to a single LAN.

    E-mail this definition to a colleague

    Sponsored listings

    Local Area Network (LAN) Hardware - Our Buyers Guide Offers Expert Buying Advice & Reviews.

    Cisco Business Solutions in Arizona and Missouri - Cisco Business Solutions give companies the ability to streamline business communications with voice, data and video technology.

    Cisco LAN - Online seller of refurbished Sun Microsystems, Cisco, Juniper, and F5 networks hardware offers Cicso LAN.


    For internet.com pages about local-area network . Also check out the following links!

    Related Links

    Ethernet tutorial 
    Contains an in-depth introduction to local area networks from Lantronix.

    LAN Times Online 
    The LAN Times online publication offers current news and analysis on the networking industry, along with links to trade shows and events, career development, and information on UnixWorld.

    Simple Guide to Building a Home LAN 
    An article from Sharky Extreme's Hardware Guide.

    The Truth About Servers 
    What makes a server a server? Is there a difference between an e-mail server and a messaging server? Should a firewall be considered a server in certain circumstances? These questions and more are answered in an extensive tutorial that cuts through the marketing hype and explains the basics of key server types.

    ARCNET Trade Association home page
    Home page for ARCNET Trade Association, a non-profit organization of ARCNET users and manufacturers. This site provides a history of ARCNET, links to technical publications, membership information, directories, and product information.

    Cable testers buyers directory
    Offers a collection of links to cable tester companies and products. This page is hosted by LAN Times Online.

    CD-ROM LAN FAQ
    Provides answers to questions on CD-ROM networking solutions and links to related newsgroups, publications, and FTP sites.

    Data communication links
    Collection of links to LAN, WAN and serial communications resources from Data Comm for Business, Inc.

    Usenet Local Area Network (LAN) FAQs
    Provides links to several LAN FAQs taken from usenet newsgroups. Some of the main topics include: data communications cabling, ethernet LAN, and LAN mail protocols.

    Yahoo!'s local-area network (LAN) page
    Yahoo!'s directory of local-area network.

    Sponsored listings

    Used and Refurbished Cisco LAN Products - Buys and sells used and refurbished network equipment, including Cisco LAN (Local Area Network) switching products.

    Wireless Networking - Find Wireless Networking Solutions and Compare prices at Shopica.com. Search products and stores before making a purchase. Start Now!

    Wireless Networking - Business technology search site offering software, service, reseller and hardware information on thousands of IT solutions.

    GlobalSpec.com: Wireless Networking Devices - Provides database of suppliers for wireless networking devices. Includes catalogs, technical information, and supplier contact information.

    related categories

    Business Computing

    Network Topologies

    Networks

    related terms

    5-4-3 rule

    AppleTalk

    ARCnet

    attenuation crosstalk ratio

    bridge

    CAN

    client/server architecture

    DCC

    e-mail

    Ethernet

    HAN

    HPNA

    HSRP

    IEEE 802 standards

    internetworking

    iSCSI

    LANE

    logical topology

    MAN

    NetWare

    network

    network interface card

    network operating system

    network-attached storage

    node


    webopedia
    Give Us Your
    Feedback


    Network Cables
    local area network LAN Products


    Shop by Top Models:
    Mcgraw-Hill Local Area Networks (0072336056)
    3 store offers from $37 - $101

    Local Area High Speed Networks (1578701139)
    1 store offers from $4.96 - $4.96

    Belkin 1,001 ft. Cat. 6 UTP Network Cable (A7L704-1000)
    12 store offers from $130 - $228

    Belkin 1,000 ft. Cat. 5 UTP Patch Cable (A7J304-S-1000)
    6 store offers from $70 - $135

    Belkin 50 ft. Cat. 5e Patch Cable (A3L850-50-BLK-S)
    3 store offers from $8 - $32




    JupiterOnlineMedia

    internet.comearthweb.comDevx.commediabistro.comGraphics.com

    Search:

    Jupitermedia Corporation has two divisions: Jupiterimages and JupiterOnlineMedia

    Jupitermedia Corporate Info


    Legal Notices, Licensing, Reprints, & Permissions, Privacy Policy.

    Advertise | Newsletters | Tech Jobs | Shopping | E-mail Offers

    Solutions
    Whitepapers and eBooks
    Microsoft Article: HyperV-The Killer Feature in WinServer ‘08
    Avaya Article: How to Feed Data into the Avaya Event Processor
    Microsoft Article: Install What You Need with Win Server ‘08
    HP eBook: Putting the Green into IT
    Whitepaper: HP Integrated Citrix XenServer for HP ProLiant Servers
    Intel Go Parallel Portal: Interview with C++ Guru Herb Sutter, Part 1
    Intel Go Parallel Portal: Interview with C++ Guru Herb Sutter, Part 2--The Future of Concurrency
    Avaya Article: Setting Up a SIP A/S Development Environment
    IBM Article: How Cool Is Your Data Center?
    Microsoft Article: Managing Virtual Machines with Microsoft System Center
    HP eBook: Storage Networking , Part 1
    Microsoft Article: Solving Data Center Complexity with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007
    MORE WHITEPAPERS, EBOOKS, AND ARTICLES
    Webcasts
    Intel Video: Are Multi-core Processors Here to Stay?
    On-Demand Webcast: Five Virtualization Trends to Watch
    HP Video: Page Cost Calculator
    Intel Video: APIs for Parallel Programming
    HP Webcast: Storage Is Changing Fast - Be Ready or Be Left Behind
    Microsoft Silverlight Video: Creating Fading Controls with Expression Design and Expression Blend 2
    MORE WEBCASTS, PODCASTS, AND VIDEOS
    Downloads and eKits
    Sun Download: Solaris 8 Migration Assistant
    Sybase Download: SQL Anywhere Developer Edition
    Red Gate Download: SQL Backup Pro and free DBA Best Practices eBook
    Red Gate Download: SQL Compare Pro 6
    Iron Speed Designer Application Generator
    MORE DOWNLOADS, EKITS, AND FREE TRIALS
    Tutorials and Demos
    How-to-Article: Preparing for Hyper-Threading Technology and Dual Core Technology
    eTouch PDF: Conquering the Tyranny of E-Mail and Word Processors
    IBM Article: Collaborating in the High-Performance Workplace
    HP Demo: StorageWorks EVA4400
    Intel Featured Algorhythm: Intel Threading Building Blocks--The Pipeline Class
    Microsoft How-to Article: Get Going with Silverlight and Windows Live
    MORE TUTORIALS, DEMOS AND STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES