Conclusion  

A Local Area Network is simply a way of using computer hardware and software to further increase the productivity of personal computers and those who use them. Two examples of typical workgroup LANs follow, as well as a glossary of all the boldface terms found in this document.   

Exhibit One - A Basic Workgroup LAN     

• Network Type: Ethernet Ethernet Implementation: 10BASE2 
• NOS Type: Peer to Peer Workstations: PCs 
• LAN Hardware: PC Ethernet adapters, print server and thin coaxial cable 
• Advantages: Easy and inexpensive to install. 
• Disadvantages: Performance tends to decrease and trouble shooting difficulties tend to increase as nodes are added.

Notes: Without a system designated as a file server, a peer to peer architecture is the only possibility. As the LAN grows a file server and the appropriate NOS could be loaded on the server and the workstations converting it to a client/server architecture. Similarly, a 10BASE-T segment can be added to the LAN at a later time. The omission of systems other than PCs from the example is not meant to suggest that only these types of systems can be connected to a 10BASE2 or peer to peer LAN. Macintosh systems, for example could be added.   

  Exhibit Two - A More Advanced Workgroup LAN  
  
   Network Type: Ethernet Ethernet Implementation: 10BASE-T 

• NOS Type: Client/Server Workstations: PCs and Macs 
• LAN Hardware: PC and Mac Ethernet File Server: PC 
• adapters, a print server and twisted  pair network cable 
• Advantages: Nodes can be added easily without compromising performance or increasing trouble shooting difficulties. 
• Disadvantages: Tends to be more expensive and difficult to initially set up. 

Notes: This example is not meant to imply that only 10BASE-T implementations can support Client/Server architectures. Bus implementations support Client/Server as well. It is also not to be taken that a 10BASE-T LAN must have both PCs and Macs.  

Glossary:  

1. 10BASE5 Ethernet network based on thick coaxial cable.  
2. 10BASE2 Ethernet network based on thin coaxial cable.  
3. 10BASE-T Ethernet network based on twisted pair cable.  
4. 100VGAnyLAN IEEE standard for a competing high speed 100Mbps transmission, not based on CSMA/CD.  
5. 802.3 IEEE specification for 10Mbps Ethernet.  
6. 802.5 IEEE specification for tokenring.  
7. Adapter A device that connects to the expansion slot of a system and allows additional system functionality i.e. hardware connection to LAN media.  
8. ATM-Asynchronous Transfer Mode A packet based, broadband technology for transmitting voice, video, and data over LANs or WANs. Transmission is specified for either 25Mbps or 155Mbps.  
9. Baseband A transmission method where the entire line is used as a single channel for transmission
10. Bridges An internetworking device that provides a communication pathway between two or more network segments or subnetworks.  
11. Bus Topology A network architecture using thin coaxial cable as a single cable trunk that connects one workstation to the next in a daisy-chain configuration.  
12. Coax A common term of Coaxial Cable.  
13. Coaxial Cable A multilayered type of cable commonly used in Ethernet 10BASE2 and 10BASE5 LANs.  
14. Concentrators A device that provides a central point of connection of terminal, computer, or communication devices.  
15. CSMA/CD- Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection The network access control method used in Ethernet.  
16. Enterprise Wide A term used to describe an organization's information infrastructure encompassing both local and wide area networks.  
17. Ethernet Networking system originally developed by DEC, Intel and Xerox. Ethernet has 10Mbps throughput and uses a carrier-sensing access method in which workstations share a network cable, but only one can use the cable at a time.  
18. Fast Ethernet IEEE standard for High speed 100Mbps Ethernet.  
19. Fiber Optic A type of cable typically used for high speed, enterprise wide LANs that consists of fiber optic strands.  
20. Hub A generic term for the central point of connection for the wires from workstations and nodes.  
21. IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the standards body that creates the Networking specifications.  
22. LAN A common abbreviation of Local Area Network.  
23. Local Area Network A system of hardware and software connected by a common media that allows for sharing and or transferring data between computing devices.  
24. Media That which acts to connect the various hardware components that make up a LAN. Media largely refers to the cable or wires in a typical wired LAN, but can also be a radio frequency or a segment of the color spectrum in the case of wireless LANs.   
25. Network Interface Card A specific type of adapter that allows for hardware connection to LAN media.  
26. NIC A common abbreviation for Network Interface Card.  
27. Node Any computing device (i.e. PC, printer or scanner) connected to a LAN.  
28. NOS-Network Operating System. The software required by the network to control the transmission of data.  
29. Peer-to-Peer A network architecture where all machines have equal status. All stations can access data stored in all other workstations.  
30. Print Server A specific type of LAN hardware that allows for connection of a printer to LAN media.  
31. Repeaters A device that regenerates network signals so that they can travel further, extending the cable length.  
32. Routers A device used to interconnect networks over local or wide areas and provide traffic control and filtering functions.  
33. Shielded Twisted Pair A type of LAN cabling containing eight wires all of which are shielded by an insulating cover. Commonly used in Token Ring LANs.  
34. Star Topology A network architecture using twisted pair cabling to provide workstations individual connections back to a hub providing a single point of connection.  
35. STP A common abbreviation for Shielded Twisted Pair cable.  
36. Telephone Cable A type of cable commonly used in Ethernet 10Base-T and Token Ring LANs. See Unshielded Twisted Pair.  
37. Thick Coaxial A type of coaxial cable used in Ethernet 10BASE5 LANs that is approximately twice the diameter of Thin Coaxial cable.  
38. Thin Coaxial A type of coaxial cable used in Ethernet 10BASE2 LANs that is approximately half the diameter of Thick Coaxial cable. Similar in looks to the cable used in cable television systems.  
39. Token Ring The IEEE standard for a token-passing ring network.  
40. Topology The physical design of a LAN.  
41. Twisted Pair A type of LAN cabling containing either four or eight wires. Commonly used in Ethernet 10BASE-T and Token Ring LANs.  
42. Unshielded Twisted Pair A type of LAN cabling containing eight wires all of which are covered with a thin insulating cover. Often referred to as telephone wire. Commonly used in Ethernet 10BASE-T and Token Ring LANs.  
43. UTP A common abbreviation for Unshielded Twisted Pair cable.  
44. Workgroup LAN A term used to describe a relatively small network that connects PC users in a single group or department.  
45. Workstation Any computer (i.e. PC, Macintosh or UNIX system) connected to a LAN.