LAN Network: What is it, types and what are these local area networks used for?

The LAN or Local Area Networks, is a type of network used for communications locally as its name indicates. It works through the interconnection of nodes and the use of cables or wireless means.

The connection is limited by physical means, these can be a building, plant or a room. This type of network allows data transfer at high speeds, which will only be available to those users connected to said internal network.

To know more about them, in this article you can see more details what is a LAN network? The types that exist and the uses that exist.

What is a Local Area Network and what is it for in computing?

It is a computer network has a limited scope due to a reduced and specific physical space like those mentioned above. These work through the interconnection of nodes, cables and wireless media, which allow the network to be used to communicate locally with other devices.

From this Local Area Network a large amount of data can be sent at high speeds, from 10Mb/s to 10Gb/S (only in theory). This is due to the fact that access to it is physically limited, so it is only allowed for all those devices connected to it, which allows the data and elements that are in it to be more secure.

What uses does a LAN network have in computing?

In computing they have different uses, which are aimed at something specific. They are mainly implemented in companies and universities. Among the different uses we can name:

• Security: It is the main reason why this type of connection is used, since in LAN networks the devices are only connected to each other, therefore, external threats cannot enter the network.
• Speed: It contains a high speed of file transfer, which allows information to be sent and received quickly.
• Simplify work: in work areas it is not necessary for each user to have a printer, to print important jobs or documents. Which means that you can have a printer connected only to a local area network, which is available to all users of the same.
• Share files: a shared storage space can be created between all the devices that are connected in the local network, which means that it is not necessary to send a file to different people. Well, just by notifying the interested parties that it is in the shared storage, they can enter to view it.
• In games: In the world of video games, using this type of connection, mainly in events or championships of great importance, helps to ensure that the latency (slowness of the network) is zero or very low in order to avoid any player being at a disadvantage.

What types of local networks exist?

There are three types, each of which varies in cost, data transmission speed, and wiring difficulty. among them the following can be mentioned:

• Hybrid LAN Network: it is a combined network that is made up of the combination between a wired connection and a wireless connection. These types of networks can be implemented to facilitate the stability and versatility of each network.

With this type, all the disadvantages of both a wireless network and a wired network are eliminated.

• Wired Network: It is a type of network in which each of the computers and other peripherals that belong to it are connected by cables.
• WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network): allows wireless communication and data transfer. It is widely used as an alternative to wired local area networks and can be used as an extension for them, which would make them a hybrid connection.

Its advantage is that allows you to reach difficult places for wiring, which favors saving money on it. However, its speed is not equal to a wired connection.

• VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network): is a method used to create logically independent networks within the same physical network. Multiple VLANs can exist on a single physical switch or on a single physical connection without issue. Well, these generate a reduction in latency in the network, they are easy to set up work groups and allow more private networks, where only the indicated people will participate.

Components of a LAN network What is needed to create one?

There are a number of different components that are necessary for the proper functioning of such a network. Also fundamental so that it can provide a stable service without generating problems for users.

The items required to create a local connection are as follows:

• Server: is that or those computers that are used to share their resources; hardware and software, with all other computers on the network. Its main characteristics are the computing power, the amount of information it stores and the connection with the resources that you want to share.
• Workstation: computers that take the role of workstations take advantage of all the resources offered by the networkas well as the services provided by the servers to which they can access.
• Gateway or walkways: are a type of hardware and software that allows communications between the local network and the main computers (mainframe). The Gateway adapts each of the communication protocols of the Mainframe (X25, SNA, etc.) to those of the network and vice versa.
• Bridge or bridges: this is a type of hardware and software that allows two local networks to be connected to each other.
• Network card: They are also known as NIC (Network Interface Card). It performs the function of intermediary between the computer and the communication network. The network communication protocols are stored in it. Although at present there are more computers that have this adapter integrated directly into their motherboard.
• The middle: It is made up of the wiring and the connectors that are linked to the components of the network. The most used physical means are; twisted pair cable, cable pair, coaxial cable and fiber optics, (the latter is the most used, both for its low cost and for the high data transmission speed it manages to provide).
• Wiring hubs: It allows the connections of the stations to be made at a single point, the concentrator, which works as a single device that is responsible for centralizing the connections, maintaining indicator lights of their status and preventing any failure from being generated or a drop in power from occurring. the network connection.