Local Area Networking

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office, or group of buildings. Current LANs are most likely to be based on switched IEEE 802.3 Ethernet running at 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbit/s or on Wi-Fi technology . The defining characteristics of LANs in contrast to WANs are: their much higher data rates; smaller geographic range; and that they do not require leased telecommunication lines.