Network LAN Technology in Computer Network
Businesses of all kinds utilize local area network (LAN) technologies extensively for information exchange and reception. To exchange information, the computers are linked together in a network. Local Area Networks (LANs) is the name given to this network. That being said, LANs, or local area networks, often operate within a constrained geographic space, such as a building or a college campus.
By connecting devices inside a constrained geographic region, such as a building or campus, LAN (Local region Network) technologies allow for communication and the sharing of resources. Ethernet, IEEE 802.11-based Wireless LAN (WLAN), and Token Ring are examples of common LAN technologies. The most used is Ethernet, which provides flexibility in network topologies and ease of implementation and maintenance.
Type of Network LAN Technology
Ethernet and Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) are the two main categories of LAN (Local Area Network) technology. Wi-Fi makes use of wireless connections, whereas Ethernet uses wired connections.
- Ethernet
- Wireless LAN
1. Ethernet
The most widely used wired technology in local area networks (LANs) is Ethernet. It outlines the guidelines and procedures for wired network communication, allowing devices to effectively share data and resources. Ethernet uses standards like IEEE 802.3 to guarantee interoperability and dependable communication at both the physical and data link layers of the OSI model.
The Operation of Ethernet:
Data Encapsulation:
Addressing information (MAC addresses) and error-checking data are among the frames of data that are separated.
Transmission:
Electrical signals or light pulses are used to send frames via the network cable.
Collision Detection:
To control access to the common network medium and stop many devices from broadcasting at once, devices in earlier Ethernet implementations employed Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD). Switches, which provide each device its own path and prevent collisions, are commonly used in modern Ethernet networks.
Reception and Error Checking:
Receiving devices reject broken frames and inspect the frame for errors. Higher-layer protocols initiate the retransmission of missing frames if required.
2. Wireless LAN
By using radio waves or other wireless communication techniques, wireless LAN (WLAN) technologies enable the creation of local area networks (LANs) without the need for physical connections. Based on IEEE 802.11 standards, Wi-Fi is the most widely used WLAN technology.
The Operation of WLAN technologies
Radio Frequency (RF) Communication:
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are the most widely used frequency bands for WLAN data transmission.
IEEE 802.11 Standard:
This standard outlines the various physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) levels as well as the protocols and requirements for WLANs.
Access Points:
In infrastructure mode, access points (APs) broadcast a network service set identifier (SSID) to serve as a bridge connecting wireless devices to the wired network.
Security and Authentication:
To protect network access, WLANs use a variety of authentication techniques, such as WPA2.