(LAN) Local Area Network

A LAN is a network of interconnected workstations sharing the resources of multiple computers or servers within a relatively small geographic area. The simplest form of a LAN is a peer-to-peer connection between two computers. A typical small business Local Area Network may serve as few as four or five users and be located entirely within a small office building. However, through the utilization of FDDI, businesses can extend the local area network over a much wider area and serve potentially several thousands of users. Generally, in a small-to-medium business client server setting, the server will host a series of common applications and data storage capabilities that are shared by multiple workstation users throughout the organization. The LAN is created through a series of data cables or wireless connections that allow easy sharing of network attached devices like high speed color printers and network attached storage (NAS).

Even small businesses with just a few workstations should seriously consider installing a simple client server LAN. Employers can host a suite of application programs (with read and write access is maintained by a LAN administrator) on the LAN server allowing users who need an application frequently to download it and run it from their local hard disk. Network users can share files and high speed internet connections, order printing, remotely access the network from home or while away on travel, and access other network services as needed through applications run on the LAN server. Considering the growing number of devices (laptops, wireless devices, etc.) that will be connected to the network in the future it makes good business sense to build the necessary networking infrastructure from the start.