HP Jetdirect 280m 802.11b Wireless Print Server - Manual (Page 28)

Network Basics
NETWORKS
L is for Local
The "local" in "local area
network" means that the
network is in a single
location. A LAN can be
small enough to serve a
home office or a small
business, or it can be
large enough to serve a
school, a hospital, or a
substantial business or
public office. It can cover
several buildings, as long
as they can all be
connected into a single
network. Several types of
LAN equipment are
available to expand a LAN
beyond the workgroup-
sized unit typically served
by a single hub.
Note that the definition of
a local area network does
not include broader
networks such as the
Internet or a corporate
network with locations in
many cities or countries.
These broader networks
are often called WANs, or
wide area networks. It is
possible for a LAN to
connect to such a network
through a gateway -- a
device that connects
different types of
networks. The gateway
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