Local Area Network (LAN)

A local area network, or LAN, is a geographically limited network that connects end devices within a building, a floor or a single site. Transmission is predominantly wired according to the Ethernet standard IEEE 802.3, while wireless extensions are referred to as WLAN or wireless LAN. Core components include switches, routers, access points, patch panels and structured cabling. VLANs allow a LAN to be divided logically into separate areas, for example for administration, production, guests and IP telephony. Characteristic features are high bandwidth from 1 to 100 Gbit/s, low latency and full control by the operator. A LAN is distinct from a WAN, which connects sites across greater distances. Careful planning of cabling, segmentation and redundancy determines performance in enterprise operations.