D-Link DI-713P - Manual (Page 8)

8
Introduction to Local Area Networking
Local Area Networking (LAN) is the term used when connecting
several computers together over a small area such as a building or group of
buildings. LAN’s can be connected over large areas. A collection of LAN’s
connected over a large area is called a Wide Area Network (WAN).
A LAN consists of multiple computers connected to each other. There
are many types of media that can connect computers together. The most
common media is CAT5 cable; UTP or STP twisted pair wire. Wireless
networks don’t use wires; instead they communicate over radio waves.
Each computer must have a Network Interface Card (NIC), which
communicates the data between computers. A NIC is usually a 10Mbps
network card, 10/100Mbps network card, or a wireless network card.
Most networks use hardware devices such as hubs or switches that
each cable can be connected to in order to continue the connection between
computers. A hub simply takes any data arriving through each port and
forwards the data to all other ports. A switch is more sophisticated, in that a
switch can determine the port that each piece of data is supposed to be
delivered to. A switch minimizes network traffic and speeds up the
communication over a network.
Networks take some time in order to plan and implement correctly.
There are many types of scenarios to consider which could affect the
operability of a network. Some of these issues are discussed in this manual
under the Networking Basics section.