The Basics of LAN Infrastructure
A well set-up network has become the most essential requirement of any successful business. That is why intelligent planning and designing of the network infrastructure should be the key considerations while choosing a company offering a wide range of networking services. This is especially true for businesses that intend to expand their resources as well as networks in not too distant future.
Since networks are generally categorized according to their scope of usage, it is pertinent to opt for the topology that is perfect for that category so that the network can run in an efficient manner. Additionally, the topological requirements of different types of networks vary significantly and depend not only upon the size of the network but also on the type of technology used for transmitting data. Since, most business networks are restricted to an office space located within a building, Local Area Network or LAN is the most common network set-up used by most businesses.
Different types of transmission lines can be used for connected the various nodes in a LAN network. These can include co-axial copper cable, twisted pair copper cable or fiber optic cable. However, since fiber optic cables not only provide the best speed but are also known for maintaining the quality of the data transmitted, they are often the preferred choice, irrespective of their high costs.
Early LAN network infrastructure was capable of transmitting data at the speeds of 10Mbps to 100Mbps. However, with the advances in network technology, modern day LAN networks can transmit data up to the speed of 10 Gbps. There are three main types of topologies that are used to set up LAN networks. These are the Bus Topology, the Ring Topology and the Star Topology.
Each of the above mentioned topologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, which play a vital role in deciding whether they are suitable to be used in a particular business set up or not. Choosing the right topology for a business network is of extreme vitality, otherwise it enhances the chances of corruption as well as loss of data.
Once the type of topology, which is most suited as per the needs of a business network, has been shortlisted, then the other tasks related to setting up the network infrastructure can be completed. These include assigning Network IP’s, establishing network speed and settings and ensuring that the necessary security measures are in place for the efficient running of the network.
