A local area network (LAN) can be defined as a collection of devices connected to one physical location, such as a building, office, or home. A LAN can be small or large, ranging from a home network with one user to an enterprise network with thousands of users and devices in an office or school. Regardless of size, a LAN’s single defining characteristic is connecting devices in a single, limited area. In contrast, a Wide Area Network(WAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN) covers larger geographic areas. Some WANs and MANs connect many LANs.
What are the components of a LAN?
A LAN includes cables, access points, switches, routers, and other components that enable devices to connect to internal servers, web servers, and other LANs via wide-area networks. The rise of virtualisation has also fuelled the development of virtual LANs, which enable network administrators to logically group network nodes and partition their networks without needing significant infrastructure changes. For example, in an office with multiple departments, such as accounting, IT support, and administration, each department’s computers could be logically connected to the same switch but partitioned to behave as if they are separate.
What are the benefits 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, print to shared printers, and be accessed and even controlled by one another. LANs were developed in the 1960s for colleges, universities, and research facilities such as NASA, most notably to connect computers with other computers. While the benefits of having devices connected to a network have always been well understood, it wasn’t until the broad deployment of Wi-Fi technology that LANs became commonplace in nearly every 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 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.
Are there different types of LANs?
There are two types of LANs: client/server LANs and peer-to-peer LANs. A client/server LAN consists of several devices connected to a central server. The server manages file storage, application access, and network traffic. A client can be any connected device that runs or accesses applications or the Internet. The clients connect to the server either with cables or through wireless connections. Typically, it can keep suites of applications on the LAN server. Users can access databases, email, document sharing, printing, and other services through applications running on the LAN server, with read-and-write access maintained by a network or IT admin. Most midsize to significant business, government, research, and education networks are client/server-based LANs. A peer-to-peer LAN doesn’t have a central server and cannot handle heavy workloads like a client/server LAN can, so they’re typically smaller. On a peer-to-peer LAN, each device shares equally in the functioning of the network. The devices share resources and data through wired or wireless connections to a switch or router. Most home networks are peer-to-peer.
What Is a Wireless LAN?
A wireless local-area network (WLAN) can be defined as a group of computers or other devices that form a network based on radio transmissions rather than wired connections. A Wi-Fi network is a type of WLAN. Anyone connected to Wi-Fi while reading this webpage is using a WLAN
How does a WLAN benefit a business?
By allowing work to happen anywhere, wireless networks don’t simply increase productivity and provide convenience by allowing work to happen anywhere. They can redefine enterprise goals and how they are achieved—not just in offices but also in factories, healthcare facilities, and schools.
How does a WLAN work?
Like broadcast media, a WLAN transmits information over radio waves. Data is sent in packets. The packets contain layers with labels and instructions that enable routing to intended locations, along with the unique MAC (Media Access Control) addresses assigned to endpoints.
How is a WLAN created?
A WLAN can be configured in one of two ways:
Infrastructure
A home or office Wi-Fi network is an example of a WLAN set-up in infrastructure mode. The endpoints are connected and communicate through a base station, which may also provide internet access. It can set up a primary infrastructure WLAN with a wireless router, which acts as the base station, and endpoints, which can be computers, mobile devices, printers, and other devices. In most cases, the wireless router is also the internet connection.
Ad hoc
In this setup, a WLAN connects endpoints such as computer workstations and mobile devices without using a base station. Wi-Fi Direct technology is used daily for an ad hoc wireless network. An ad hoc WLAN can easily set up and provide basic peer-to-peer (P2P) communication. An ad hoc WLAN requires only two or more endpoints with built-in radio transmissions, such as computers or mobile devices. After adjusting network settings for ad hoc mode, one user initiates the network and becomes visible to the others.
Is a WLAN secure?
A WLAN is more vulnerable to being breached than a physical network. Hackers must gain physical access to an internal network or breach an external firewall with a wired network. To access a WLAN, Hacker can simply be within range of the network and breach it. The most basic method of securing a WLAN is to use MAC addresses to disallow unauthorised stations. However, determined adversaries may be able to join networks by spoofing an authorised address. The most common security method for a WLAN is encryption, including Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), with WPA2 as the standard authentication method.
How does roaming work on a WLAN?
For any sized network, access points can extend the area of access. Wi-Fi standards allow a non-stationary user’s connection to jump from one access point to another, though some users and applications may experience brief dropouts. Even with nonoverlapping access points, a user’s connection is paused until contact with the following access point is reached. Additional access points can be wired or wireless. When access points overlap, they can be configured to help optimise the network by sharing and managing loads.
What is a mesh network?
A mesh network extends a WLAN’s reach and performance using numerous access points that connect wirelessly. A mesh network provides multiple transmission paths; with intelligent algorithms, it can manage routing to improve performance.
WLAN architecture
Stations
Stations are components that connect wirelessly to networks. They are access points or endpoints; each would have a unique network address.
Basic Service Set (BSS)
A BSS is a group of stations that connects to the network. In ad hoc networks, the group of stations is called an Independent BSS (IBSS). A set of connected BSSs, as in a network with multiple access points, is called an Extended Service Set (ESS).
Distribution system
The distribution system connects access points in an ESS. The connections can be wired or wireless. A wireless distribution system (WDS) can use mesh or its own WDS protocol. Fixed wireless is a specialised form of radio transmission.
Access point
The access point is the base station that serves as a hub to which other stations connect. The “access” is that of the stations to the network, but it may also mean internet access since many routers double as internet modems. In an ESS, access points may be connected with Ethernet cables or wirelessly.
Bridge
The bridge is used to connect a WLAN to a LAN or an access point.
Endpoint
The endpoint is any end-user station, such as a computer, mobile device, printer, or Internet of Things device.
Benefits of a WLAN
Extended reach
WLANs enable computing anywhere, even with high data loads and advanced web applications.
Device flexibility
A WLAN supports using a wide range of devices, such as computers, phones, tablets, gaming systems, and IoT devices.
Easier installation and management
A WLAN requires less physical equipment than a wired network, which saves money, reduces installation time, and takes up less of a footprint in office settings.
Scalability
A WLAN is easy to scale. Adding users is as simple as assigning login credentials.
Network management
Nearly all management of a WLAN can be handled virtually. A single software interface can provide visibility, manage users, monitor network health, and collect data.
