LAN (Local Area Network):-

       LAN is a group of computers located in the same room, on the same floor, or in the same building that are connected to form a single computer network. LANs allow users to share storage devices, printers, applications, data, and other network resources. They are limited to a specific geographical area, usually less than one kilometer in diameter.

Advantage of  LAN:-

Sharing of resources:

          In the Local Area Network, all the computers and other devices are connected to a single network. If any device needs resources from any other device that can be shared between them. The various resources other than computers are the DVD drive, printers, scanners, modems, and hard drives.

Internet sharing:

       In the Local Area Network, there is the facility to use a single internet connection for all the devices connected in the LAN. In offices, school computer labs, and in the internet café a single internet connection is provided to all the devices under that network using LAN technology.

Centralized data:

       In LAN data of all network users can be stored in the hard disk of a central / server computer. That helps all users to use any computer to axis any required data in the network.

Sharing of Applications:

       In the Local Area Network, a single licensed application can be used by all the computers under that LAN network. It is expensive to buy an application license for each computer, it reduces the cost.

Easy and Fast communication:

       In the Local Area Network, data sharing or communication is easy and much faster. Because LAN is in a small geographical area and it makes data sharing faster and easy to access any file in the network.

Data security:

       All the data stored in the LAN is secure because there is no external connectivity to this network.

Disadvantage of LAN:-

Data security problem:

       If the server computer is not set up correctly and there is a leak in security then unauthorized users can access the data also. So there should be privacy policy and rules set up correctly on the server.

Limitation of distance:

       Local area networks are usually made within a building or nearby building and cannot extend to the wider area.

Server crashes may affect all computers:

       If any file on the server is corrupted or hard drive fails then all the attached computers face problems in functioning properly.

Setting up a LAN is expensive:

       It is expensive to set up LAN because there is special software required to make a server. Also, communication devices like hubs, switches, routers, cables are costly. The special administrator is required to maintain and troubleshoot LAN for a large office.

Characteristics of LAN

Here are the important characteristics of a LAN network:

• It is a private network, so an outside regulatory body never controls it.
• LAN operates at a relatively higher speed compared to other WAN systems.
• There are various kinds of media access control methods like token ring and ethernet.
• They use mainly bus, ring and star topology.