Local Area Network (LAN) Maintenance Key Terms

Understand the terms you need to know for working with a local area network

Whether you choose to perform your own maintenance or hire an outside consultant to perform LAN work for your company, local area network maintenance requires that you be aware of several key terms. Understanding how your LAN works and what the various network components are will help you communicate problems to a consultant or locate problem areas yourself. Local area networks provide efficient use of resources for your business, and keeping your LAN up to date is good way to maintain a productive work environment.

 

Local area network

A local area network, or LAN, is a network of two or more computers that are connected through their physical proximity to one another and allow computers to share information and peripheral hardware like printers. A local area network may be wired, or connected through cables, or wireless. Local area networks are easy to set up for an office since most computer operating systems have built-in LAN software.
Try: Wise Geek provides a comprehensive definition of a local area network and some associated terms, while PC Magazine has both a detailed explanation of LAN and a diagram to explain how local area networks are set up.

CompTIA Network+ certification

CompTIA Network+ certification is one way to identify individuals who have a certified level of knowledge about LAN components and their use and maintenance. This type of certification is not affiliated with a specific vendor but has been adopted by several network companies.
Try: Read about the specific knowledge and skills defined by CompTIA Network+ certification at The Computing Technology Industry Association.

Ethernet

Ethernet is the type of connection most often used for wired local area networks. Ethernet cables are similar to telephone cables in appearance and function. In order to use an ethernet cable, the computers being networked must have an ethernet hub, which looks like a large phone jack, and be wired to a central switch or hub that allows all of the computers and hardware connected through the LAN to communicate.
Try: Read a detailed explanation of ethernet from network specialist Marios Alexandrou.

Internet protocol

Internet protocol, or IP, is used to assign an address to each computer in a local area network. In order for computers in a network to communicate, there must be a way for the network to identify each computer as distinct. IP addresses identify computers as the source or destination for information shared on a local area network.
Try: Learn more about Internet protocol from Hitachi ID Systems.

Router

A router is a piece of network hardware that is used to read the packets of information being sent over the local area network and determine where to send the information. The router also may serve as a mediator between the local area network and other wider networks, such as the Internet.
Try: Key IT Solutions provides more information on the router and its uses as a local area network component.

Migration

LAN migration describes the process of moving your current local area network to a higher-performing system. Migration also may refer to the adoption of a local area network for the first time, or the switch from a wired to a wireless local area network. During migration, a number of maintenance tasks may need to be performed to troubleshoot the network switch.
Try: View a diagram of how LAN migration occurs during initial local area network installation at DPS Telecom. 

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