INFORMATION SHEET 2.7
LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (LANs) SYSTEMS AND CONFIGURATIONS
A network is a group of interconnected computers, linked for the purpose of
sharing files, programs and peripherals. Through your computers or office network,
you can run programs, use printers, and edit files from other computers as if they
were located on your own.
A server is the computer on the network that manages the network
resources, such as the shared files, programs and printers.
Local-area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small geographic
area, like a home, office, or group of buildings e.g. a school.
The majority of networking, particularly at the corporate level, is done using
the internet standard. At the center of the basic diagram of a wired network is
either a hub or a switcher and computers are connected to the hub, much like
spokes of a wheel or star. Each connection at the hub is called a port.
Three Basic Network Categories

Local Area Network- the smallest of the three network types, consists of PCs
connected together within a limited area, such as within the same building,
floor or department.
LOCAL AREA
NETWORK

Metropolitan Area Network – is a network that spans no more than 50 miles.
It is design to connect LANs spanning a town or city
METROPOLITAN AREA
NETWORK

WIDE AREA NETWORK
Wide Area Network – is used to distribute information thousand of miles
among thousands of users.
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Network Terms:

Network Server- is a powerful computer whose sole purpose is to serve
network clients.
NETWORK SERVER

Host – any computer whether mainframe, server, or even PC that acts as an
information source on a network.

Peers- mean any computer sharing the same protocol layer with another
computer.

Workstation- is any network computer that connects to and request
resources from a network

Protocol – refers to the specific standards governing the sending and
receiving of data.
Types of Networks

server/client –use a network operating system to manage the entire work.
Date
L.O. Conduct Validation and Testing
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
peer-to-peer - no centralized computer oversees the networks, no server,
and computers simply connect with each other in a network group to share
files, printers, and internet access.
The Basic Rule
The basic rule for network design is known as the 5-4-3 rule. It states that in a 10
Mbps. Ethernet network:

you can have a maximum of five cable segments between any two computers

you can have a maximum of four repeaters (hubs, switches, wireless access
points, etc.) between any two computers

of the five cable segments (maximum) between any computers, only three of
these can terminate in computers.
Date
L.O. Conduct Validation and Testing
Version No.
Module 4 :Installing of Computer Systems and Networks
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