local area network

(networking)

(LAN) A data communications network which is geographically limited (typically to a 1 km radius) allowing easy interconnection of terminals, microprocessors and computers within adjacent buildings. Ethernet and FDDI are examples of standard LANs.

Because the network is known to cover only a small area, optimisations can be made in the network signal protocols that permit data rates up to 100Mb/s.

See also token ring, wide area network, metropolitan area network..

Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.dcom.lans.misc.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

LAN

(Local Area Network) A communications network that is confined to a building or building complex. A LAN is a local network, whereas a WAN is a wide area network that spans long distances (see WAN). A wireless router generally has four or more LAN ports that create a small local network in the home or office (see wireless router).

The "clients" in a LAN are the user's computers running Windows, Mac or Linux, while the "servers" hold programs and data shared by the clients. Servers come in a wide range of sizes from PCs to mainframes (see server). The Internet hosts millions of them.

The Transport
Data transfer over a LAN is managed by the TCP/IP transport protocol, and the physical transmission by cable is Ethernet. Mobile devices are connected by Wi-Fi, Ethernet's wireless counterpart. See twisted pair, optical fiber, TCP/IP and Ethernet.

Thick and Thin Clients
In a company LAN, the client machines are typically Windows or Mac, possibly some Linux, and each platform has many installed applications. These "thick" clients are the norm; however, some organizations use "thin" clients, whereby their PCs function like terminals to a server (see Remote Desktop Services). See thin client and client/server.

The Network OS
The software that enables sharing between machines is the network operating system, typically Linux, Windows or Unix. The network OS is in the servers with a component in each client, allowing each to access files from each other. Folders must be made "sharable" for file transfers to work.

Clients and Servers in a LAN

This shows the private employee-facing side and the public-facing site. In large companies, multiple servers are used for each type of service. Today, it is uncommon to see a remote access server for dial-up connections.

Software in a Network Client

These are examples of common applications found in a user's machine. Printers may be connected to clients or servers wired or wireless (see print server).

Software in a Network Server

These are the common services in a network server.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Local area networks, which link personal computers, come in all flavors.

What's in a LAN?

Tokyo, Japan, July 29, 2005 - (JCNN) - Ericsson and BB Mobile, a Softbank affiliate, jointly completed the world's first test with an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) between a 3G mobile network and a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Ericsson, BB Mobile Successfully Hand Over IMS Service between 3G and WLAN

Applications include automatic call devices, call center servers, wide area and local area network servers, virtual private networks, voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP), and video-on-demand servers.

Five-nines reliability in the harshest of conditions. (Top Technology Showcase)

The module provides network security by encrypting/decrypting all network traffic from/to the module when placed between the user Local Area Network and the external network.

NIST'S CRYPTOGRAPHIC MODULE VALIDATION PROGRAM VALIDATES 100TH CRYPTOGRAPHIC MODULE

The growing list includes individuals or businesses that are considering hosting their own Web site on a server, those that want autonomy over security issues around their local area network (LAN) or that want to implement efficient-operation tools such as videoconferencing.

Tech issues: is your Internet connection rght for you?

Your office manager, who also administered your local area network, quits under less-than-friendly circumstances.

What to do when your computer network supervisor quits

This means that our customers can easily integrate our Internet Connection into their Local Area Network (LAN) since it already speaks the same protocol they are familiar with.

Underneath the covers with the latest Internet access

--Power-over-Ethernet--Deliver power to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, WiFi access points, and other IP devices over the local area network with ADC's IEEE 802.3af-compliant Power-over-Ethernet Controllers.

ADC introduces TrueNet Structured Cabling System