| Since computers came into use in research institutes, | | | | will need specialized software packages. |
| industries and later in our homes the demand of a | | | | The same goes for hardware also. Nowadays all |
| proper channel to communicate with other computers | | | | computer manufacturing companies dispatch |
| had been growing rapidly. Till today the demand of | | | | computers with inbuilt network adapters which is the |
| high speed inter network communication still remains. | | | | hardware platform upon which two computers |
| Nowadays inter network communication between | | | | communicate. So all you will need to buy from |
| computers goes at a speed of Gbps. But we still | | | | market is Ethernet cable which will serve the purpose |
| need more. It is only because advantages of using | | | | of physically connecting two computers. If you need |
| Local Area Network at your work place or home are | | | | to connect more than two computers then you will |
| numerous. To use a LAN you should understand the | | | | need a specialized hardware called Router. Inside a |
| basics behind it and how it is going to be useful for | | | | LAN or any sort of network a computer is uniquely |
| you. | | | | identified by an IP Address. Using this IP Address you |
| LAN in simple words | | | | can find and connect to any computer within you |
| LAN stands for Local Area Network. As the name | | | | network. |
| suggests it is used to bind a series of computers | | | | Advantages of using LAN |
| within a structured network inside a local work place | | | | As already said the benefits of connecting two or |
| of yours. If you have hundreds of computers at your | | | | more computers over a LAN are unlimited. You can |
| office or simply have a couple of computers at your | | | | share and transfer files over the network which |
| home then you can connect them via Ethernet cable | | | | simply removes the burden of using external storage |
| and build up your own LAN. | | | | disk of any kind. In your office, you can provide an |
| What do you need to set up a LAN? | | | | inter network chat environment for your employees. |
| There exist different hardware and software facilities | | | | At your home you can play games over a LAN with |
| to help you build up a LAN. As far as software | | | | your friends. These are only a few examples which |
| applications are concerned, most of the operating | | | | pop up first whenever there is a discussion going on |
| systems in use today are already loaded with them. | | | | advantages of using LAN. Moreover you can also |
| So if you need a general purpose LAN then the | | | | connect your LAN with other available larger |
| required software interface is available in your | | | | networks like WAN (Wide Area Network) or if you |
| existing operating system itself and you do not need | | | | want you can also connect two or more LAN. |
| anything else. But for more complex functionality you | | | | |