How does a Local Area Network(LAN) work?

A local area network(LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are shared in common by multiple computer users. A local area network may serve as few as two or three users (for example, in a home network) or as many as thousands of users (for example. in an FDDI network).

Local area networks, generally called LANS, are privately-owned networks. They provide a useful way of sharing resources between end-users. The resources such as printers, file servers, scanners, and the internet are easily shareable among other connected computers in a network.

LANs are distinguished from other kinds of networks by three characteristics:

1. Their transmission technology
2. Their size
3. Their topology

Local Area Network serves a local area, housed usually within a building or a number of buildings within a small geographical area. A LAN is used to share software, hardware, and files of data LAN consists of computers and other devices connected to hubs, or switches. One of the hubs is connected to a router, cable modem, or broadband modem in order to connect to the internet, thus becoming a part of a WAN.

Advantages of LAN

1. Resource Sharing: LAN provides resource sharing such as computer resources like printers, scanners, modems, DVD-ROM drives, and hard disks that can be shared within the connected devices. This reduces cost and hardware purchases.
2. Software Applications Sharing: In a Local Area Network, it is easy to use the same software in a number of computers connected to a network instead of purchasing them separately licensed software for each client a network.
3. Easy and Cheap Communications: Data and messages can easily be shared with the other computer connected to the network.

Disadvantages of LAN

1. High Setup Cost: The initial setup cost of installing a Local Area Network is high because there is special software required to make a server. Also, communications devices like an ethernet cable, switches, hubs, routers, cables are costly.
2. Privacy Violations: the LAN administrator can see and check the personal data files of each and every LAN user. Moreover, he can view the computer and internet history of the LAN user.