Whether you want to connect a few PC’s for file sharing and printer access or you wish to connect several business sites, using a Chicago computer networking professional can help you achieve your goal. On a larger scale, these networks can be used to comprise a wide area network (WAN) which encompasses a larger geographical space. Most common localized area networks (LANs) are used to connect users in a given set of locations for productivity, entertainment and communications purposes. This article goes over LAN technology to give you a better grasp of local area networks.
Local Area Network
Local area networks can be used for many purposes including shared Internet access, file sharing, print sharing and several collaborative applications. Users can protect local networks through firewalls which limit access to the network according to IP address, ensuring that unauthorized users don’t have the same connectivity as standard computer users.
There is both a technical and software based implementation to a local network, varying according to the setup. Often the devices on the LAN are connected via a wireless or wired connection to a single point such as a network switch. Users can also set access rights on servers and printers to ensure only authorized users are allowed to gain access. This is particularly useful in cases where families want to limit the access of younger children, or when companies want to safeguard confidential data to only a certain group of employees.
Many companies have an intranet which allows multiple users to access shared services via a portal application. Internet access can be limited to keep employees or children off of websites that are not business related or appropriate.
Proper LAN Setup
On your LAN you can easily setup shared services such as file and print sharing. Most commonly offices are connected remotely through wireless access, although a network can also be hard wired through Ethernet cables. Due to advances in wireless technology and security, many companies choose wireless over wired applications.
Computers on the same local network are connected via a shared router, which broadcasts the signal to authorized machines. The shared router is password protected and all access that does not include the key is denied. Many networks today have specified public or shared drives which can be access universally on the server, providing an opportunity to easily collaborate, review and update documents across an organization. Each individual folder can be shared only with the people that require access to perform their job duties. Today’s complex networking software enables network administrators to connect remote machines in a secure manner to keep your business running smoothly.
