A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers or other devices interconnected within a single, limited area, typically via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
FAQsWhat is a Local Area Network?
A LAN is a computer network that consists of access points, cables, routers, and switches that enable devices to connect to web servers and internal servers within a single building, campus, or home network, and to other LANs via Wide Area Networks (WAN) or Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). Devices on a LAN, typically personal computers and workstations, can share files and be accessed by each other over a single Internet connection.
A router assigns IP addresses to each device on the network and facilitates a shared Internet connection between all the connected devices. A network switch connects to the router and facilitates communication between connected devices, but does not handle Local Area Network IP configuration or sharing Internet connections. Switches are ideal tools for increasing the number of LAN ports available on the network.
What are the Basic Layouts of Local Area Networks
The Local Area Network layout, also known as Local Area Network topology, describes the physical and logical manner in which devices and network segments are interconnected. LANs are categorized by the physical signal transmission medium or the logical manner in which data travels through the network between devices, independent of the physical connection.
LANs generally consist of cables and switches, which can be connected to a router, cable modem, or ADSL modem for Internet access. LANs can also include such network devices as firewalls, load balancers, and network intrusion detection.
Logical network topology examples include twisted pair Ethernet, which is categorized as a logical bus topology, and token ring, which is categorized as a logical ring topology. Physical network topology examples include star, mesh, tree, ring, point-to-point, circular, hybrid, and bus topology networks, each consisting of different configurations of nodes and links.
How Does Local Area Network Work
The function of Local Area Networks is to link computers together and provide shared access to printers, files, and other services. Local area network architecture is categorized as either peer-to-peer or client-server. On a client-server local area network, multiple client-devices are connected to a central server, in which application access, device access, file storage, and network traffic are managed.
Applications running on the Local Area Network server provide services such as database access, document sharing, email, and printing. Devices on a peer-to-peer local area network share data directly to a switch or router without the use of a central server.
LANs can interconnect with other LANs via leased lines and services, or across the Internet using virtual, private network technologies. This system of connected LANs is classified as a Wide Local Area Network or a metropolitan area network. Local Area and Wide Area Networks differ in their range. An Emulated Local Area Network enables routing and data bridging an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, which facilitates the exchange of Ethernet and token ring network data.
How to Design a Local Area Network
The first step in Local Area Network design is determining network needs. Before building a Local Area Network, identify the number of devices, which determines the number of ports required. A switch can extend the number of ports as the number of devices increases.
In order to connect devices wirelessly, a router is required to broadcast a wireless LAN. A router is also required to establish an internet connection for devices on the network. The distance between hardware devices should be measured in order to determine the length of cables required. Switches can connect cables for very long distances.
The setup simply requires connecting the router to a power source, connecting the modem to the router, connecting the switch to the router (if using), and connecting the devices to the open LAN ports on the router via Ethernet. Next, set up one computer as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server by installing a third-party utility. This will enable all of the connected computers to easily obtain IP addresses. Turn on “Network Discovery” and “File and Printer Sharing” capabilities.
For wireless Local Area Network Installation, start by connecting the computer into one of the router's LAN ports via Ethernet. Enter the router's IP address into any Web Browser and log in with the network administrator account when prompted for a username and password. Open the “Wireless” section in the router settings and change the name of the network in the “SSID” field.
Enable “WPA-2 Personal” as the security or authentication option. Create a password under “"Pre-Shared Key," ensure that the wireless network is “enabled,” save changes, restart the router, and connect wireless devices to the wireless network, which should appear on the available network list of devices within range.
Characteristics of wireless Local Area Network include: high capacity load balancing, scalability, network management system, role-based access control, indoor and outdoor coverage options, performance measuring abilities, mobile device management, web content and application filtering, roaming, redundancy, wireless Local Area Network Application prioritization, network switching, and network firewalls.
A common Local Area Network issue is a disabled Local Area Network adapter or adapter error, which can be caused by faulty network adapter settings or by VPN software. Typical solutions include: updating the network adapter driver, resetting the network connection, and checking WLAN AutoConfig dependency services.
How to Secure a Local Area Network
The majority of Local Area Network problems and solutions are concerned with the matter of security. There are a variety of strategies for designing a secure Local Area Network. A common approach is to install a firewall behind a single access point, such as a wireless router. Another valuable measure is to use security protocols such as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2 for password encryption on incoming Internet traffic.
Implementing specialized authentication policies enables network administrators to inspect and filter network traffic in order to prevent unauthorized access. Specific access points can be secured with the use of technologies such as VPNs. Internal Local Area Network security can be managed by installing antivirus or anti-malware software.
Virtual Local Area Network Definition
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a logical grouping of devices that can assemble together collections of devices on separate physical LANs, and is configured to communicate as if the devices were attached to the same wire. This enables network administrators to easily configure a single switched network to match the security and functional requirements of their systems without requiring any additional cables or significant changes to the current network infrastructure. VLANs are categorized as Protocol VLAN, Static VLAN, or Dynamic VLAN.
Importance of Local Area Network in an Organization
There are several advantages of Local Area Networks in business:
- Reduced Costs: LANs present a significant reduction in Local Area Network hardware costs and efficient resource pooling.
- Increased Storage Capacity: By pooling all data into a central data storage server, the number of storage servers required is decreased and the efficiency of operations is increased.
- Optimized Flexibility: Data can be accessed by any device from anywhere via Internet connection.
- Streamlined Communication: Files and messages can be transferred in real time and accessed easily from anywhere on any device.
Does HEAVY.AI Offer a Local Area Network Solution?
Real-time monitoring of network activity is essential to the security of a network. When linked together, LANs create Wide Area Networks and Metropolitan Area Networks, which are sometimes inundated with data sets that are too massive for the capabilities of a traditional analytics platform. With HEAVY.AI, telecommunications network operators and data scientists can monitor, analyze, and visualize billions of rows of data in real-time to diagnose and mitigate issues, optimize performance, improve the customer experience, and maintain the network’s high standards of reliability.
A local area network (LAN) is defined as a connected environment spanning one or more buildings – typically in a 1-kilometer radius – that links computing devices within close proximity of each other by using ethernet and Wi-Fi technology. This article discusses the seven key types of LAN and its architectural components, along with our recommendations to streamline LAN implementation.
Table of Contents
A local area network (LAN) is a connected environment spanning one or more buildings – typically in a one-kilometer radius – that links computing devices within close proximity of each other by using ethernet and Wi-Fi technology. LAN is among the most foundational components of the global networked landscape, both at consumer and enterprise levels.
In 1974, Cambridge University developed the Cambridge Ring, which helped connect the computing devices used within the university campus. Xerox came up with an early version of ethernet between 1973 and 1974. The first LAN installation viable at scale was 1979’s electronic voting systems for the European Parliament, where LAN was used to connect 400+ microprocessor-enabled voting terminals.
Until the 1980s, LAN remained limited to research, education, the public sector, and defense applications. From the 1990s, the rise of affordable PCs and wider accessibility of the internet made LAN implementations more commonplace. Today, nearly every networked location relies on LAN in some way or the other across urban residential areas, office locations, factories, etc.
In terms of hierarchy, LAN covers more area than a personal area network (PAN), which connects nearby devices using bluetooth or wi-fi, and near-field connectivity (NFC). It is also less expansive than a metropolitan area network (MAN) which covers entire cities and a wide area network (WAN) which connects multiple cities or regions using the same secured line.
Most leading telecom carriers offer LAN solutions to their consumer and enterprise users to connect their personal and professional devices for daily internet usage. LAN access enables remote collaboration, online shopping, cloud-based media consumption, cloud storage, data exchange from wearables, and a host of other use cases.
This is why the demand for LAN is constantly growing, despite being a mature market. According to Industry Research, both wired and wireless LAN segments have grown in recent years, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. In Q1 of 2021, revenues in the enterprise segment of wireless LAN grew by 24.6%, as per IDC reports. In other words, LAN continues to be a prominent technology in enterprise stacks, nearly 50 years after it was first developed in the 1970s.
See More: What Is Broad Network Access? Definition, Key Components, and Best Practices
Types of Local Area Network (LAN)
Local area networks can be classified based on the types of devices they connect, the design of the underlying architecture, and the medium used. There’s also an emerging LAN market that’s native to the cloud era.
Different Types of LAN
1. Client-server LAN
In a client-server LAN environment, a single server connects to multiple devices known as clients. Client devices cannot interact with each other and a centralized machine handles activities like network traffic management, network access control, etc. This LAN type may be faster in small perimeters, but in a large perimeter, it places too much pressure on the central server.
2. Peer to peer (P2P) LAN
In a P2P LAN, there is no centralized server, and all connected devices have access to each other, regardless of whether they are servers or clients. The advantage of a P2P LAN is that devices can freely exchange data with one another, making it easier to stream media, send files, and perform similar data exchange activities. On the downside, they tend to be less powerful than client-server LANs.
3. Token ring LAN
Based on the architecture design, you can classify LANs into a token ring or token bus categories. In the former, all devices are arranged in a ring when they are connected. A token is assigned to every connected device based on its requirements. It was introduced by IBM in 1984 for use in corporate environments when ethernet technology was still in the early stages of development.
4. Token bus LAN
In a token bus LAN, connected nodes are arranged in a tree-like topology, and tokens are transferred either left or right. Typically, it provides better bandwidth capacities than a token ring LAN environment.
5. Wired LAN
Wired LAN is probably the most common LAN type in use today. It uses electronic waves to transfer data across optical fiber (or cable variants) instead of tokens. Wired LAN is extremely reliable and can be very fast, depending on the performance of the central server. However, it can hinder portability and flexibility, particularly in environments with no fixed number of devices.
6. Wireless LAN
Wireless LAN is commonly used in home environments to connect computing devices, wearables, smart appliances, etc. but there is a massive enterprise market for wireless LAN as well, growing by 10.3% year over year as per IDC. This type of LAN uses radiofrequency for data transfers, which can make it susceptible to security risks. It is also battery-intensive and may show fluctuating performance depending on where the wireless device is situated.
7. Cloud-managed LAN
Cloud-managed LAN is a specific type of wireless LAN where a centralized cloud platform is used to manage network provisioning, policy enforcement, access control, and other aspects of network performance and security. In a heterogeneous networked environment, cloud-managed LAN streamlines governance, making it a good fit for enterprise use. By 2025, cloud-managed LAN will be worth over $1.18 billion globally, as per research by Market Research Future.
See More: How SD-WAN Is Simplifying and Accelerating Multi-Cloud Adoption
Key Architectural Components of LAN
Now that we know what a local area network is and its various types let us explore the various architectural components that make up your average LAN environment.
Key Components of LAN Architecture
1. Public internet
The public internet is what’s being accessed through the LAN. Typically, the centralized server receives data packets from the public internet and access requests from the client devices. It then addresses these requests by enabling data transfer to the various connected nodes through a wired or wireless medium. Technically, a local area network may exist without reaching the public internet – for example, for private data exchange or private intranet hosting use cases. However, internet access is among the top reasons for LAN adoption.
2. Wired end-user devices
An average LAN environment will have a mix of both wired and wireless devices. Remember that we are talking about end-user devices here, such as laptops, desktops, smart televisions, smart monitors, collaboration hardware, meeting room systems, and the like. These devices will have an ethernet port through which you can plug in the local area network directly into the device itself. Wired end-user devices typically enjoy high-speed internet connectivity, high-quality media streaming, and fast processing.
3. Mobile end-user devices
Mobile end-user devices refer to devices that you connect using Wi-Fi instead of an ethernet cable. Keep in mind that the same device can double up as both a wired or mobile variant. For example, you may connect a laptop to LAN using the ethernet port on the device or through Wi-Fi, depending on where the device is situated and the performance you need. Wearables, smart home appliances, smart building components, laptops, smartphones, and ruggedized handheld devices fall into this category.
4. Centralized server
The centralized server is possibly the most crucial component in a LAN environment, particularly for enterprise implementations. Enterprises may purchase or lease servers from vendors like IBM, Cisco, HPE, etc. You can obtain LAN servers from your local telecom carrier as well. Or, you can choose to connect all your devices to one or more modems that are in turn connected to a server situated in a different location. This is typically the case for consumer applications, as there is no cost incurred from housing or maintaining the server. On the other hand, enterprises with LAN servers located on their premises enjoy faster speeds and greater bandwidth capacity.
5. Network switch(es)
A network switch is an essential component of a local area network. It governs how data packets and network resources are allocated between the devices connected to the centralized server. You can plug in multiple ethernet cables into a multi-port network switch. The switch enforces your network policies so that performance is optimized for every connected end-user device. There are two kinds of switches you can consider for your LAN environment – managed and unmanaged. Managed switches provide you with more control, but unmanaged switches may be cheaper and easier to maintain.
6. Wi-Fi router
A Wi-Fi router is now a staple component of local area networks as wireless LAN implementations aren’t possible without it. The router is connected to your modem so that it can receive network signals, and it converts it into wireless signals that your mobile end-user devices can process. In recent years, it is common to bundle Wi-Fi routers into the same hardware shell as the modem, as wired-only networks are now increasingly rare. Along with the router, you can deploy accompanying components like Wi-Fi extenders, access points, Wi-Fi amplifiers, and analyzers to boost performance. All of these components are available in both consumer-grade and enterprise-grade variants.
7. Modem
A modem is an indispensable component for a local area network as this is what converts the analog signals transmitted via wires and cables into a digital format. Traditional modems are standalone devices where you can plug in the incoming uplink on one end and the outgoing cable on the other. However, there are several modern alternatives to this approach. You can purchase a modem + router device that both converts analog signals into digital and prepares for wireless transmission. You can also combine the network switch with the modem’s functionality. Companies like Cisco and Dell continue to manufacture powerful, standalone cable modems for enterprise use.
8. Firewall appliance (optional)
A firewall protects end-user devices and servers from network-related security attacks by restricting specific kinds of traffic. Today, most end-user devices ship with built-in firewall software, and you can also download additional software from the internet. Some of the more advanced router systems available in the market also include firewall capability. Optionally, you can choose to implement a hardware firewall appliance as a LAN component. It sits between the router and the network switch or between the switch and the central server to regulate all the data traffic flowing to end-user devices.
See More: Network Attached Storage (NAS) vs. Cloud Backup: Which Suits Your Organization the Best?
Top 10 Best Practices for Implementing and Managing Local Area Network (LAN)
LAN adoption is a vital step in business growth. It allows you to gain from the latest digital technologies such as online services, cloud-hosted information, and cloud-based process management platforms. Here are 10 best practices to guide LAN implementation and management for business success.
LAN Management Best Practices
1. Enable WPA3 encryption
WPA2 encryption was the global standard in Wi-Fi security, which is essential given the connection’s risk-prone nature. Since 2006, all enterprise-certified Wi-Fi hardware has used WPA2, with the new WPA3 emerging in 2018. WPA3 improves upon WPA2 by addressing password-related vulnerabilities, securing public Wi-Fi, and making it easier to set up a secure Wi-Fi network. It is advisable for enterprises to transition to WPA3 in the next few quarters, as you will also enjoy backward compatibility with WPA2.
2. Conduct LAN inventory and implement standardization
As discussed, the average LAN has eight key components, and this number can increase with time. From IP phones, IP cameras, IP speakers, etc., to desktops, printers, access points, and firewall appliances spread out across the office campus, there is a risk of growing clutter as your network environment evolves. Clutter not only makes LAN difficult and expensive to maintain but also causes security vulnerabilities. That’s why you need to conduct a detailed inventory, take stock of network policies and hardware versions, and enforce standardization to simplify governance.
3. Deploy network redundancy as a failsafe for LAN downtime
Redundancy (or an idle network resource that kicks in, in case of an emergency) is essential for a reliable local area network. LAN connectivity may be disrupted due to inclement weather, problems with the central server’s configurations, security threats, wear and tear, excessive bandwidth demand, and a host of other reasons. Your business must remain connected throughout this period by using a failsafe mechanism. You can set up intermediate routers that enable automatic failover to a different line in case of a disruption. You may also invest in a backup LAN setup from a different carrier to circumvent carrier-related downtime issues.
4. Carefully consider the physical LAN design
Several vendors now promise plug-and-play LAN solutions, but these may not be the best fit for every scenario. Particularly for business use, every organization requires a local area network tailored for their unique requirements – for example, connecting kiosk PCs in a retail outlet or tablet-based menus in a restaurant. The physical design of your LAN architecture, including the exact positioning of routers, the number and configuration of network switches, and the quality of cables used.
5. Plan for Internet of Things (IoT)
There are two types of networks used to connect IoT devices – low power wide area networks (LPWAN) in long ranges and wireless LAN within the same building or up to 100 meters. You may even connect an IoT device using a wired LAN if it has an ethernet port, which is often the case for home appliances like smart TVs or enterprise-grade meeting systems. All of these require a well-articulated blueprint where you take stock of your existing IoT devices and estimate future requirements. You may allocate dedicated network resources via LAN as well as LPWAN, depending on your edge radius.
6. Explore software-defined LAN or SD-LAN viability
SD-LAN decouples physical network components from the platform from which they are managed. Instead of configuring each individual device for optimized LAN connectivity, SD-LAN uses a centralized platform (typically hosted on the cloud and fed with data wirelessly). SD-LAN has a number of advantages over traditional LAN management. You obtain observability across your entire landscape through a single pane of glass. You can also gain from software-based enablers like network automation code or cloud-delivered updates. Next-gen SD-LAN services like Macquarie Telecom SD-LAN use artificial intelligence (AI) to enable up to 5X faster speeds than even Wi-Fi 5.
7. Consider managed LAN services to reduce in-house efforts
Managed LAN services allow you to offload the maintenance, governance, and security aspects of LAN management to an external provider. Nearly every major telecom carrier globally, including Orange, Verizon, and Vodacom, offer managed LAN to their enterprise clients. You can also partner with technology companies that bring expertise in network device management and modernization. Typically, a managed LAN offering will use a cloud-hosted platform to provide you with visibility and regular insights into LAN operations without having to put in any on-ground efforts.
8. Adopt LAN segmentation to improve performance
Segmentation allows you to branch a local area network to improve performance and ensure security. Different LAN segments do not have access to each other and gain from dedicated resources assigned to them via the network router and switch. There are two ways to go about this. You can place a physical LAN bridge between the central server and connected devices to create multiple branches. Or, you can use virtual LAN or VLAN technology to use software-defined network policies to isolate your network into groups.
9. Use a physical firewall appliance in addition to firewall software
Due to the ubiquity of firewall software, consumers and small businesses often make the mistake of not investing in an additional firewall appliance. However, software alone cannot block 100% of your network-related risks and vulnerabilities. Firewall software resides in the same system as all the other applications on your end-user device. This means that if the device is infected or compromised in any way, the firewall software may also stop functioning. An additional firewall appliance regulates data traffic and enforces restrictions from an external node that is almost impossible to hack.
10. Assign LAN implementation ownership to designated stakeholders
LAN is a key infrastructural pillar of your enterprise and shouldn’t be bundled with the rest of your IT services or network administration duties. You need a designated project manager to look after LAN implementation, and they could belong either to your internal IT team or the managed service provider’s staff. There must be a team of network management professionals to optimize LAN configurations after it is installed. You also need a centralized decision-maker to oversee the project. This capability could draw from a Center of Excellence (CoE) comprising representatives from the various business units that rely on LAN for day-to-day functioning.
See More: Top 5 Wi-Fi Analyzer Apps to Drive Seamless and High-Speed Connectivity
Key Takeaway
Robust LAN infrastructure can provide you with reliable connectivity and support business processes. To achieve this, companies must remember the following key elements:
- LAN helps connect devices in a 1-kilometer radius (wired) or 100 meters radius (wireless).
- LAN has seven essential and one optional component for optimized functionality and security.
- Following the LAN best practices we recommended, you can ensure a hassle-free LAN implementation that stands the test of time as your organization evolves.
- LAN continues to be a dynamic technology space, with the introduction of AI and the cloud, despite being a highly mature market.
By paying attention to the LAN architecture, users with networked environments of any scale (consumer, SMB, or enterprise) can improve performance, save costs, and minimize security risks.
What are your targets for LAN modernization in 2022? Tell us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. We would love to hear from you!
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