LAN & Desktop Services - What is a LAN?

LAN is an acronym for Local Area Network. A Network consists of several personal computers linked together by cabling, enabling them to communicate with each other.

What are the different parts of a LAN?

• NIC - Network Interface Cards that are inside all the PC's and the File Server that opens up communication.
  
  
• Cabling - Ethernet, 10baseT or Twisted Pair (all the same wire) is what the City of Boulder is using as standard communication channel. Fiber Optic is used in some cases between buildings.
  
  
• PC's - these are "nodes" on the Network and serve as the means to communicate with the file server. Can act as "dumb terminals" that just access the file server or can be equipped with hard drives and be used as a stand alone or be networked.
  
  
• File Server - an enhanced PC that is used as the central computer that houses most applications and data. Similar to the Main Frame Computer in the past that acted as the heart (or pancreas) of everything.

Why use a LAN?

• Hardware Sharing - allows each individual PC to use expensive hardware such as printers, modems, and CD ROM drives.
  
  
• Information Sharing - centralized use of programs and data eliminates replicating information and increases ease of access by others.
  
  
• Electronic Mail - allows users to directly consult each other.
  
  
• Centralized Backup - usually a tape backup is put somewhere on the network and can even backup local hard drives too.
  
  
• Security - the network operating system is equipped for several layers of security for all the LAN users.

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