A local area network is a network
where all devices on the network communicate with each other
because they all belong to a common group. For
example, computers in City Hall, a hospital, clinic, school
all communicate with each other on a local area network that
share the same network address.
Local area networks
can be Server Based or Peer-To-Peer. They can also be
wired or wireless versions of those two variations.
A server based local area network is a network
where client computers communicates with a server in order
to gain access to the network and access to resources such
as data, email, printing, etc.
The server in this
type of setup uses a server operating system such as
Microsoft Server, Novel, Linux, etc.
The clients
computers can have operating systems such as windows XP,
Windows 7, Windows 8, Mac OS, Linux, etc.
The
advantage to this type of networking is the ability to
continue to provide access to resources regardless of how
many client computers are active on the network.
The
disadvantage of this type of network is that it cost more to
buy the server equipment and software and to hire an IT
staff to set it up and run it.
Peer-To-Peer Local Area Network
In a Peer-To-Peer network there are no servers. All
client computers communicate with each other and share
access to data, and printing without going thru a server.
The advantage to this type of networking is its low
cost. You don't have to invest in server equipment and
software and the IT expertise to set it up and manage it.
The disadvantage of this type of network is that you
lose access to resources when a user turn off their computer
or take their computer when they travel.
