NETWORKS
L is for Local
The "local" in "local area
network" means that the network
is in a single location. A LAN can
be small enough to serve a home
office or a small business, or it
can be large enough to serve a
school, a hospital, or a substantial
business or public office. It can
cover several buildings, as long as
they can all be connected into a
single network. Several types of
LAN equipment are available to
expand a LAN beyond the
workgroup-sized unit typically
served by a single hub.
Note that the definition of a local
area network does not include
broader networks such as the
Internet or a corporate network
with locations in many cities or
countries. These broader
networks are often called WANs,
or wide area networks. It is
possible for a LAN to connect to
such a network through a gateway
-- a device that connects different
types of networks. The gateway
can be a separate piece of
equipment, or it can include the
LAN hub. (This latter type of
gateway is becoming increasingly
common for Internet
connections, particularly for high-
speed DSL connections.)
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