Local Area Networks (LANs)

A local area network is often a network confined to one location, one building or one campus. These networks are composed of various components from desktop PC's, printers, servers to mainframes and other strange devices. All hosts on a LAN have addresses that fall in a single continuous and contiguous range. LANs usually do not contain routers. Internetworks contain routers.

Definitions

• What is a Local Area Network?
• What is a Network Interface?
• What is a Network Segment?
• What is a Broadcast Domain?

COMMON LAN CONCEPTS

• Network Topologies
• Bridging
• Switching
• Spanning Tree

802.x LAN Protocols

Protocols

• Ethernet (DEC, Intel, Xerox)
• Token Bus (IBM)
• Token Ring (IBM)

Functions

• ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
• RARP - Reverse Address Resolution Protocol
• LLC - Logical Link Control
• MAC - Media Access Controller

OTHER PROTOCOLS

• ATM LANE
• BOOTP
• DHCP

LAN EQUIPMENT

• Cabling
• Multi-service Access Unit (MAU)
• Hubs
• Bridges
• Switches
• Routers

 

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