Local Area Network
Alucan Fitch
A LAN cable is also known as an Ethernet cable. You use Ethernet cables to connect devices to a router in a local area network. Ethernet cables also have specific distances over which they function effectively. For example, for CAT 6 Ethernet cables, that distance is 700 feet. Therefore, any device farther away from the router must connect wirelessly.
Local area networks (LANs) are computer networks ranging in size froma few computers in a single office to hundreds or even thousands ofdevices spread across several buildings. They function to linkcomputers together and provide shared access to printers, fileservers, and other services. LANs in turn may be plugged into largernetworks, such as larger LANs or wide area networks (WANs), connectingmany computers within an organization to each other and/or to theInternet.
Because the technologies used to build LANs are extremely diverse, itis impossible to describe them except in the most general way.Universal components consist of the physical media that connectdevices, interfaces on the individual devices that connect to themedia, protocols that transmit data across the network, and softwarethat negotiates, interprets, and administers the network and itsservices. Many LANs also include signal repeaters and bridges orrouters, especially if they are large or connect to other networks.
A local area network (LAN) connects devices that are physically close to each other by using connectors like routers and switches. It allows devices to exchange data and communicate securely on a small scale. A wide area network (WAN) spans beyond a single building or large campus to connect multiple locations spread across a specific geographic area or even the world. Organizations use WANs to facilitate digital interactions and data sharing between employees and customers in different regions or countries.
A network node may be data communication equipment (DCE) or data terminal equipment (DTE). DCE includes things like modems, hubs, or switches, while DTE may be something like two or more computers and printers.
You can secure both LANs and WANs by using various methods such as firewalls, encryption, and access control. Security measures prevent unauthorized access to the network and protect sensitive data during transmission. If you implement strong security measures, both WANs and LANs can provide a secure environment for your users to communicate and share data.
Fundamentally, both local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) connect several devices. However, a WAN can be made up of multiple interconnected LANs. A WAN is a network that connects multiple LANs over a long distance to allow devices to communicate over a wide area.
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model defines a layered structure of how computers exchange data on a network. The layers identify different steps in network communication and various tasks that network components perform to make the exchange happen.
LANs use data communication equipment (DCE) from OSI layers 1 and 2. Layer 1 devices, such as hubs and repeaters, physically transmit data over the network. For example, they may convert digital signals into analog signals for transmission over a physical medium. Layer 2 devices, such as switches and bridges, establish and maintain communication between devices on the same network segment.
WANs use DCE from OSI layers 1, 2, and 3. Layer 3 devices route data between different network segments. To do this, they examine the addresses of incoming data packets and forward the packets to the appropriate destination networks. Examples include multi-layer switches, routers, and technology-specific devices such as frame-relay switches and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
In contrast, WAN connections are often virtual connections over the public internet. A variety of telecommunications links are used to connect devices over a larger geographical area. For example, here are different types of WAN connections:
A LAN offers low propagation delay and a high data transfer rate compared to a WAN. Propagation delay refers to the time it takes for a signal to travel from one point in a network to another. LAN devices are located in close proximity and connected through routers or switches using ethernet cables. A LAN also has less congestion because it supports a more limited number of users than a WAN.
At Amazon Web Services (AWS), we offer the broadest and deepest set of LAN and WAN management services with our AWS networking and content delivery services. You can use them to deliver applications and content anywhere in the world over a purpose-built network.
A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to share resources (such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow electronic communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams.
Computers connected to a network are broadly categorized as servers or workstations. Servers are generally not used by humans directly, but rather run continuously to provide "services" to the other computers (and their human users) on the network. Services provided can include printing and faxing, software hosting, file storage and sharing, messaging, data storage and retrieval, complete access control (security) for the network's resources, and many others.
Workstations are called such because they typically do have a human user which interacts with the network through them. Workstations were traditionally considered a desktop, consisting of a computer, keyboard, display, and mouse, or a laptop, with with integrated keyboard, display, and touchpad. With the advent of the tablet computer, and the touch screen devices such as iPad and iPhone, our definition of workstation is quickly evolving to include those devices, because of their ability to interact with the network and utilize network services.
Servers tend to be more powerful than workstations, although configurations are guided by needs. For example, a group of servers might be located in a secure area, away from humans, and only accessed through the network. In such cases, it would be common for the servers to operate without a dedicated display or keyboard. However, the size and speed of the server's processor(s), hard drive, and main memory might add dramatically to the cost of the system. On the other hand, a workstation might not need as much storage or working memory, but might require an expensive display to accommodate the needs of its user. Every computer on a network should be appropriately configured for its use.
On a single LAN, computers and servers may be connected by cables or wirelessly. Wireless access to a wired network is made possible by wireless access points (WAPs). These WAP devices provide a bridge between computers and networks. A typical WAP might have the theoretical capacity to connect hundreds or even thousands of wireless users to a network, although practical capacity might be far less.
35fe9a5643