Local Area Network - a group of computers linked together in a given limited area, for example, in the building.The size of the network may be different.It may include in its composition from the two working stations located in the same room, to several hundreds of workstations, which are arranged on different floors of the office building.In most cases, to connect computers in a network can be used in different types of cables.However, admissibility and use of wireless channels, as will be discussed, too.So, let's understand what the local area network?It is important to note that if the network is leaving the boundaries of a single building, it would be correct to call global.In general, from the specialized literature can be determined that the local network is limited to the structure and the global no such restriction.
not always correspond to the literary definition of accepted norms, because usually the network is determined by a functional, rather than physical traits.In this sense, which is the most common, such networks are a means to link PCs, allowing them to access different hardware.That is, these computers have access to various network resources, such as printers, scanners, as if they were locally installed.Naturally, under the access to the equipment and is meant access to data available on this equipment.
So, the question of what is the local network may already seem understandable.But here there are many nuances.All computers of the network are able to not only access to the installed network components, but to use them the same way as local installation, which implies the implementation of these required joint.
first local area network connected the first generation of office computers - mainframes to the network, however, the first personal car was taken to establish as separate devices.It should be said about the most primitive form of network when the user for data copy them to a floppy disk on the same device, and then passed to another to print the information or just keep it there.This decision can not be called bad, especially when you consider the ability to copy large volumes of information.But here, too, there are shortcomings, and very serious:
- the risk of loss of data loss or accidental formatting of data was very high;
- Difficulties arise with the synchronization of different versions of a document when it was necessary to work on more than one person at a time;
- floppy disk size was only 1.44 MB, and the size of the required data file could substantially exceed it;
- the inability of users to carry out work on documents using different applications pre-installed on computers;
- data was difficult to defend, as the floppy disk could be simply stolen;
- spent a considerable amount of time copying files, transfer them to another machine, and subsequent operations with him.
That is why such networks are suitable only for solving the primitive tasks.So, what is local network in this sense?Modern office facilities must meet the new requirements:
- sharing, protection and transmission of data;
- applications must be available to be shared;
- users should be comfortable interacting with each other;
- peripheral devices must be made available for all machines.
Now you know not only what the local area network, but what are the principles laid down in its foundation.
