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LOCAL AREA NETWORK
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A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area.
                                                                            

Main characteristics of LAN:
Areas of coverage:	LANs located within the same building (closely positioned group of buildings) such as a home, school computer laboratory, office building.
Distance:	LANs span (cover) distance less than a mile.
Ownership:	LANs are owned and operated by individual organizations

Type of LAN	Defination
Personal Area Network (PAN)	wireless network that works within a very small area—your immediate surroundings.
Home Area Network (HAN)	network for homes allowing different computers to share resources, including a common Internet connection.

Advantages:

• Hardware and software can be shared.
• All the users work can be stored in a central place.
• Data can be shared because database files stored in the server are available to users around the network.

Disadvantages:

• Printing can be slow, long print queues may develop.
• A virus can spread more easily.
• As data is shared there is a greater need for security.