Local Area Network:
LANs are usually privately owned networks. Based on the requirements these type of networks can be limited to a single office, building, or campus. They network computers that are in one location, or in nearby offices and buildings.
LANs are designed to allow sharing of resources like hardware (cd rom, printers, and storage devices), software or data (docs, sheets, presentations) between the systems. Connecting ordinary PCs in a LAN also requires the use of relatively more powerful computers like Network servers and File servers.
The hardware used for constructing LANs includes Network Interface controllers, cables, and hubs. LANs enable faster transmission of data compared to the data transmitted through a telephone line.
Advantages of LANs:
Sharing of Data Resources: LANs facilitate sharing of data and software among the computer systems on the network. The work carried out by the users can be stored or software can be installed at a central place called a file server (with high capacity storage) and this data can be accessed by any user from any computer on the network.
Centralized backup facilities: These heavy storage servers also allow the users to take backups at regular intervals. This helps the user to retrieve work that may have been accidentally deleted or lost due to system failure.
Sharing of Hardware: They enable sharing of peripherals like printers and other devices. These devices are managed by the network server, or by specific device servers. All the computer systems in a LAN are connected to each other and to these servers. For example, in the case of a shared printer on a network, print jobs from different computers on the network are queued and then released to the printer by the network server or the print server, as the case may be.
- Improved communication: In LANs, users can send messages to other computer systems in the computer network. This reduces the time, cost, and effort required in disseminating messages.
- Other advantages: LANs provide better control, security, and flexibility to the users on the network in comparison to WANs and MANs. They are also cheaper than MANs and WANs
Disadvantages of LANs:
- Difficulty in sharing resources: If there are too many computers on a network, sharing may slow down the network. For instance, the time involved in printing would be high as the number of tasks lined up in the server is high due to several computer systems sending print jobs simultaneously.
- Virus threat: Viruses can spread more easily in a LAN. If one computer is affected by a virus and this computer is then accessed by other users, their computers may also become infected with the virus
- Security issues: Users have ids and passwords that allow them to log in to a computer. If these are known to the other users, then it is easy for anybody to access their files or documents.
- Common server: All the network devices in a LAN are managed by servers. If a server breaks down, then all the systems will be affected. Users may not be able to share files and other documents or use the printers.
- Complex architecture: LANs have more complex architecture than a set of individual standalone computers. Therefore, they require maintenance, and also, usually someone to look after and run the system.
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