LAN

LAN

A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line 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 many as thousands of users (for example, in an FDDI network).

The main local area network technologies are:

 Ethernet

 token ring

 Attached Resource Computer Network

 Fiber Distributed-Data Interface (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) Typically, a suite of application programs can be kept on the LAN server. Users who need an application frequently can download it once and then run it from their local hard disk. Users can order printing and other services as needed through applications run on the LAN server. A user can share files with others at the LAN server; read and write access is maintained by a LAN administrator.

A LAN server may also be used as a Web server if safeguards are taken to secure internal applications and data from outside access.

MPLS MultiProtocolLabelSwitching

WAN WideAreaNetwork

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