Networking (LAN)

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office, or small groups of buildings, such as a school, or an airport. The defining characteristics of LANs, include their usually higher data-transfer rates, smaller geographic area, and lack of a need for leased telecommunication lines.
 
Most LANs  are built with relatively inexpensive hardware such as Ethernet cables, network adapters, and hubs. Wireless LAN and other more advanced LAN hardware options also exist.LANs  were originally put in by small businesses so users could share an expensive laser printer and/or accounting files. Today, the network is the computer, providing a myriad of communications and Internet access tasks.
 
Typical uses are:

• File sharing: for accounting, customer contact software.
• Printer sharing: now as much to reduce the clutter of printers everywhere as to share the cost of a single expensive printer.
• Fax from the Desktop: for efficient use of time and better looking faxes.
• Internet / Intranet Access: as these technologies take over everything.
• Project Colaboration: to cut way down on meetings.
• Calendar: so everyone can work themselves into the overall schedule and know who will be available when.
• Backup: multiple computers can be backed up over the network, automatically, to a single tape.

So important have LANs become, and so inexpensive, it is becoming rare to find even the smallest oraganization that doesn't have multiple computers connected with a LAN.