10 Advantages And Disadvantages Of LAN {Local Area Network}

In today’s article, we are going to learn and discuss 10 Advantages and Disadvantages of LAN {Local Area Network} | Drawbacks and Benefits of LAN with meaning, examples, types, and descriptions with images.

The LAN stands for Local Area Network.

The LAN is used to connect two or more computers and devices for the purpose of data and information sharing.

LAN is also used for resources and services sharing such as printers, internet, applications, files, and data.

For LAN networking cables, switches, routers, and connectors are used.

Let us dig into the topic more briefly.

Table of Contents

What are LAN and its Feature?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group | collection of devices or computers connected through a server or host in a small area.

A LAN is designed by connecting two or more computers in a network in a small area such as a school, college, or office.

In LAN, one computer can become a server that serves all remaining computers called clients.

A LAN is a computer network that possesses access points like cables, routers, switches, and RJ 45 connectors that enable devices and computers to connect web servers.

Computers are connected with wire medium through cable and wireless medium through strong radio waves.

LAN will be used as one type of transmission medium, and the speed of transmission is 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.

Advantages and Disadvantages of LAN {Local Area Network}

Advantages of LAN (Local Area Network)

The first advantage of a local area network is that it is fast and is arranged cost-effectively.
Those who want to organize a network at a lower cost and more flexibility should consider a local area network.
We need to log into our computer and retrieve all the data from the server if we need to access any of the data All the data on the connected computers are secured and protected on a single server with authentications.
LAN software programs are also shared, where you can be part of a program that any device can use on the network since it would be expensive to buy a license for every device on the network.
It is safe and secure to keep your information on the server. If you want to add or delete data from the server, you can do it rapidly on the computer, and other devices will easily obtain information. You can grant access to the user for that particular data.
LAN-connected devices communicate directly at a very high speed based on the LAN model and the Ethernet cabling installed. The maximum speed is 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1000 Mbps.
LAN is a cheap and easy form of communication.
The internet can be connected easily to a network.
The data and information transfer rate is high compared to others.
The LAN is scalable any time user can add or remove a computer or device from the network without disturbing the complete network.

The Disadvantage of LAN (Local Area Network) in Points

Information and data security can happen due to unauthorized or unapproved users. The user can misuse our sensitive data and information these may happen with a technical flaw or misconfigured internet equipment.
A local Area Network is a design or built-in for a building or apartment.
It is not possible to make a LAN network in a wide area network because LAN has limited resources and is not that capable.
If the file on the server gets damaged or crashes, all the computers attached to the network will face problem difficulty in operating.
Communication hardware devices are hubs, switches, and routers that are expensive to buy, a large office LAN must control and solve problems for an organization by a professional.
It is essential to install software on the LAN server, so it is expensive to establish a LAN.
This is considered to be one of the disadvantages of LAN as the pen drives and other external storage media take a huge time to copy files and information from one location to another.
The LAN covers a small area for networking.
The LANs are high in upgrade and maintenance.
Often data and security violations are found.
The cables and connectors often get damaged easily.
Computers and devices often get out of the network easily.
To rectify the issues related to a network we need a piece of professional advice and support which can be costly sometimes.

9 Basic Features of LAN in Points

The area of the LAN network is limited to a small area at a few kilometers range.
The transfer of information between the computers is high between 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.
LAN uses a transmission medium of data categorized into five coaxial cables.
LAN is distinguished from other networks by other topologies.
The Computers can communicate with each other which are in the network.
You can use different topologies, mainly bus, ring, mesh as well as star in LAN.
The LAN is a private network and to access the network one should be authenticated user.
LAN operates at a higher speed compared to other its counterparts like WAN or Wireless Networks.
There are different types of media access control methods like token rings and Ethernet.

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What are the Features of LAN?

Local Area Network works in a small geographical area; only in a local independent area is the information stored in the central device or server.

It uses the particular transmission media for networking and delivering high data transfer between (10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps).

Communication between the computers is short and time reliable. LAN is powerful with a more stable and standardized topology.

Some Common Topologies

I have listed 4 topologies that are extensively used and utilized in computer networks.

Star Topology
Tree Topology.
Linear Bus Topology
Ring Network.

Star Topology

A star topology is a topology for a Local Area Network where all the nodes are connected to the central device, like a hub or switch.

A switch device sends the data and information to all the devices which are connected to them. If any of the nodes fail, the entire device does not affect it and continues to work.

Tree Topology

A tree topology has the characteristics of both linear bus and star topologies.

It consists of a group of stars connected to a linear bus backbone. It is used for the expansion of the existing network.

Linear Bus Topology

Linear Bus Topology consists of a single long cable that connects some devices with a terminator at each end; all nodes are connected to a single cable.

If any of the devices fail, the entire network fails.

Ring Network

A Ring Network is a topology where every device connects with two other devices, forming a single continuous pathway to form a ring-like network.

Data travel from one node to another in a continuous manner.

Examples of LAN {Local Area Network}

LAN helps us save data on any central system from which it can be shared around the organization, data transfer, and recovery on a LAN network and the files can be saved on the server.

Some LAN networks can be used in the following

Home network
Offices
School networking
Campus universities
Two computer network

Comparison Between LAN and WAN

LAN	WAN
LAN has a higher data transfer.	WAN has a lower data transfer.
LAN is a computer network that covers a small geographical area like a home, office, or school campus.	WAN is a computer network that covers a broader scope.
The speed of the LAN is high.	The speed of WAN is slower than LAN.
LAN offers more fault tolerance	WAN offers low fault tolerance
LAN design and maintenance are easy.	WAN design and maintenance are complicated

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