Quizlet Local Area Networks Network Hardware Extended Chap 8

What Is a Local Area Network? LAN Definition, History and Examples

A local surface area network (LAN) consists of a serial of computers linked together to grade a network in a circumscribed location. The computers in a LAN connect to each other via TCP/IP ethernet or Wi-Fi. A LAN is normally exclusive to an system, such every bit a schoolhouse, office, association or church.

History of LAN

LAN began in the ether. Non the 19th century concept of a mysterious, invisible medium betwixt the sunday and the World that conducts low-cal — that's Aether; however, it's non far off to think about LAN and Aether in the same context.

Here's a timeline that will tell you why:

1973: Birth of the Ethernet

Dr. Robert One thousand. Metcalfe invented the Ethernet in 1973. His task was to network all the computers in a building to each other and to the world'southward first Xerox laser printer. In a memo, he named the networking method "Ethernet" because the huge coaxial cable that would connect the computers to each other reminded him of the Aether concept.

Metcalfe's thought was informed past ARPANET — the original internet adult past the U.S. Department of Defense— and the ALOHAnet, which was a parcel-switching wireless radio network for computers developed by the University of Hawaii.

The Ethernet immune computers to send packets of data through a coaxial cablevision to communicate with each other and the printer. It employed a collision-detection scheme. If nodes in the network fired at the aforementioned time, causing a collision, the mainframe wouldn't respond and the nodes would and so await a random number of milliseconds to burn once more.

1977: First commercial LAN

Four years subsequently, Datapoint Corp. installed the first commercial LAN at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Unlike Metcalfe's Ethernet, Datapoint'due south LAN used the Attached Resources Computer (ARC) network. While Ethernet employed standoff-detection, ARC employed a token-passing scheme to avoid simultaneous transmissions by nodes. In other words, the nodes took turns transmitting signals instead of relying on random retransmission. Other companies, such as IBM, adopted the token-passing scheme to battle Ethernet for LAN supremacy throughout the '80s.

1979: Ethernet available to the public

Metcalfe started 3Com to develop and sell Ethernet products.

1985: IEEE becomes the standard for LAN

Ethernet became the Establish of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) standard for LAN.

1990: Ethernet wins over LAN

Ethernet had won the LAN battle, in part by switching to a twisted pair cable, which reduces crosstalk and electromagnetic induction. In other words, Ethernet was faster.

1991: Work begins on wireless LAN

The IEEE started working on wireless LAN (WLAN), which is based on the ALOHAnet image.

1997: Wi-Fi is born

IEEE released the 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standard.

Instead of collision-detection, Wi-Fi employs a wait-and-see carrier sense multiple admission/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme. A Wi-Fi device listens to radio waves broadcast by the LAN for a random amount of time, and when the network is idle, the device transmits a indicate (frame). When the receiver gets the frame intact, information technology sends back an acknowledgement (ACK) to the sender. Wireless LANs (WLANs) and LANs tin admission the internet or wide area networks (WANs) through a gateway

Difference Betwixt LAN and WAN

A wide expanse network (WAN) is a serial of LANs linked together to form a network in an extended area. WANs are typically operated by telecommunications companies or businesses that demand a network comprising multiple remote locations. The internet itself is a WAN.

Fiber optic cablevision is the preferred manual medium for WANs because fiber optic can transmit large amounts of data at high speeds. As is the case with the internet, a WAN tin can also include metropolitan expanse networks (MANs).

LAN Server

A LAN server, or file server, is a specialized, high-speed figurer that houses the application programs and files for computers on a network. A network administrator grants user access to apps and files on a LAN server. LAN users can download apps and files to access them directly from the difficult drive of their device.

LAN vs. Wi-Fi

Today, asking whether you lot should use a LAN Ethernet connection or a Wi-Fi connection is like asking whether you desire consistency or convenience. Gigabit Ethernet is capable of consistently transmitting data at speeds of thou Mbps and Fast Ethernet can handle 100 Mbps. In comparison, the newest Wi-Fi standards operate every bit follows:

• 802.11ah: Operates on frequency bandwidths beneath 1GHz, pregnant it's capable of longer distance manual than other standards. The top speed for 802.11ah is 347Mbps.
• 802.11ad: Operates on a bandwidth of 60GHz at speeds upwards to 6.7Gbps — very fast, but merely works up to 11 feet away from the access hub.
• 802.1ac (Wi-Fi v): Operates on a bandwidth of 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, depending on the router, with speeds up to three.46Gbps.

The latter two standards are a groovy deal faster than Gigabit Ethernet, but Lifewire'southward Bradley Mitchell contends that these theoretical Wi-Fi speeds do not lucifer up with the actual speeds you'll experience. Still, WLANs allow you to move effectually conveniently with laptops and smartphones in the area. You won't experience the consistent speed of Ethernet, but you will get fairly high speeds and convenience with today's technology.

LAN Example: Components Necessary for a LAN Connection

To build a LAN or WLAN, you need the following:

• Computers with Interface Cards: Most modern PCs, laptops and tablets come up with a network interface card (NIC) for Ethernet and one for Wi-Fi. This allows the machine to connect to a network. The NIC should come with driver software that the operating organisation automatically configures and updates.
• Cables: Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables are the standard (CatX cables, where X is a number that indicates the speed a cable will fetch). If you're looking for insanely fast speeds, fiber optic cables are the (expensive) ticket.
• Switches and Hubs: You lot'll run cables to boxes containing switches and a hub (or more than ane hub for a larger network). Enough of LANs use both switches and hubs. A hub divides up and shares data packet transmission with all the computers on a LAN, while switches dedicate packet transmission to a single figurer, which reduces network traffic.
• Routers: Network routers allow yous to connect to other LANs (if need be), and they assign IP addresses to your devices. A wireless router will permit computers with Wi-Fi NICs to connect with each other and with the internet.
• Modem: If you lot're going to connect a LAN to other LANs and to the internet to form a WAN, a modem facilitates point conversion and reversion.
• Software: Network software should come up with your operating system of choice, only you'll besides demand to download security software.
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server: You'll demand a PC with plenty of RAM and difficult bulldoze space to human action as your DHCP server.

Setting up a LAN, WLAN or WAN can be very complex depending on the size of the arrangement. Preparing for and earning an IT certification like CompTIA Network+ will prove to employers you have the skills needed to administer computer networks.

CompTIA Network+ covers calculator networking topics including setting up LANs. Download the exam objectives to encounter all the topics covered past this Information technology certification.

Read more about Computer Networks.

Share this post