LAN is a computer network that uses cables or radio signals to link two or more computers within a geographically limited area (generally one building or a group of buildings). The connected computers are called workstations.
LANs are differentiated by their architecture (peer-to-peer or client/server), topology (bus, hierarchical, multipoint, point-to-point, ring, or star), protocols (standards for transferring data among the linked workstations), and media (for instance, coaxial, twisted-pair, and fiber optic).
Peer-to-peer LANs are simple to implement using the built-in networking capabilities of computers running Microsoft Windows or Mac OS; such networks enable the linked computers to share expensive peripherals such as laser printers; client/server networks use a server to make centralized resources (such as databases and applications) available to workstation users. See AppleTalk, baseband, broadband, bus network, client/server, Ethernet, peer-to-peer network, ring network, star network, wireless LAN.
LAN
