What is a local area network?

A local area network is a group of computers connected together, located in a certain limited area, for example, in a building. The size of such a network can be different. It can include in its composition from two workstations located in the same room, up to several hundred workstations, which are located on different floors of a single office building. In most cases, to combine computers into a single network, cables of different types can be used. However, the use of wireless channels is permissible, as will also be mentioned. So, let's understand what is a local network? It is important to note that if the network leaves the boundaries of one building, then it will be more correct to call it global. In general, from the specialized literature it can be determined that the local network is limited to the limits of the structure, and for global such restrictions there is no.

Not always the literary definition corresponds to the accepted norms, as usually the network is defined by functional, and not by physical features. In this sense, which is the most common, such networks are a means of connecting computers, allowing them to access different equipment. That is, these computers get access to various kinds of network resources, for example, printers, scanners, as if they are locally installed. Naturally, access to equipment is understood as access to the data available on this equipment.

So, in the question of what a local network is, you can already seem to understand everything. However, there are a lot of nuances. All computers of such a network are able not only to access the installed components of the network, but also to use them in the same way as when installing locally, which implies mandatory joint implementation of data.

The first local computer network connected office computers of the first generation - mainframes to the network, however, it was customary to install the first personal machines as separate devices. It should be said about the most primitive form of the local network, when a user for transferring data copied them to a floppy disk on one device, and then switched to another to print out information or just save it there. This solution could not be called bad, especially considering the possibility of copying large amounts of information. However, there are also shortcomings, and very serious ones:

- the risk of loss of information in case of loss or accidental formatting of data was very high;

- the difficulties arose with the synchronization of different versions of the document, when several people had to work on it at the same time;

- The size of the floppy disk was only 1.44 MB, and the size of the required file with the data could significantly exceed it;

- the inability of users to work with documents when using different pre-installed applications on computers;

- the data was difficult to protect, since the floppy disk could have been simply stolen;

- A considerable amount of time is spent on the processes of copying files, transferring them to another machine, as well as subsequent operations with it.

That is why such networks were suitable only for solving primitive problems. So what is a local network in the current sense? Modern office facilities must meet new requirements:

- shared access, protection and data transmission;

- applications must be available for sharing;

- users should be comfortable to interact with each other;

- Peripheral devices must be made available to all machines.

Now you know not only what a local network is, but also what are the principles underlying it.