LAN (Local Area Network)

Local area networks, generally called LANs, are privately-owned networks within a single building or campus of up to a few kilometers in size. They are widely used to connect personal computers and workstations in company offices and factories to share resources (e.g., printers) and exchange information.

LANs are distinguished from other kinds of networks by three characteristics: 

1. their sizetheir
2. transmission technology 
3. their topology. 

The Network components of LAN are:

•Media connectors : Media connectors are devices that are used to connect a node to the transmission medium. They correspond to the Physical layer of the OSI reference model.

•Network Interface Cards (NICs) : NICs are the internal components of nodes and connect each node to the network. NICs operate in the Data Link layer of the OSI model.

•Repeaters : Repeaters amplify and regenerate the signal from one node to another on a network.

•Hubs : Hubs are the central point of connection on a network because they allow   multiple nodes and devices to be attached to them at the same time.

•Bridges : Bridges are devices to connect network segments to each other.   The following figure shows the use of bridges in management of   network traffic.

•Switches : Switches are intelligent network devices that provide universal   connectivity.

 

 

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