LAN: How to Set Up a LAN Network?

Speaking of local area networks, or LANs, they are smaller networks, usually within an office space. A LAN is used to connect computing resources, typically inside one building. The computing resources can be computers, printers, servers, IP phones, or routers. Connections between the workstations are physical, with cables, and all the office resources are shared and distributed between the network workstations. The most common type of LAN is Ethernet, which is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for LANs. You must first identify which services you need to provide locally on the LAN. Computers are connected to a switch with Ethernet cables. Each device will have a unique IP address.

What You Need While Setting Up a LAN Network:

• Cable router
• Ethernet cables
• Ethernet switch
• Network interfaces

Instructions to Set Up a LAN Network

Create Network

1. Identify the local services that you want available on the network. Identify network-attached printers, network disk drives, and any server that will share printers or disks.
2. Identify how many devices will need to connect to the network. Each device, server, or workstation will require a unique address.
3. Run cables to workstations where possible. A wired LAN will always get better performance and be more secure than a wireless LAN. Wherever possible, run a cable to servers, printers, IP phones, or work locations. Run a cable to any area where you are likely to work. Use standard Ethernet cables or building wiring as installed according to the TIA-568 standard.
4. Select and purchase a switch or cable router. The simplest and most secure way to connect to the Internet is to use a cable router. Many makes and models are available. If the model you choose does not have enough ports to connect all of your computers, then you will need to purchase a switch as well.
5. Configure the WAN port of the cable router. Configuration details will vary from vendor to vendor. Key information needed to configure the WAN port will be supplied by your internet service provider.
6. Configure the LAN ports of your cable router. Most cable routers will act as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. This means the router will give addresses to workstations automatically. Ensure that the address pool has enough addresses for all of the workstations. Make certain that there are enough addresses outside of the range for any hosts that need static addresses. For example, a network address with a mask of 255.255.255.0 has a total of 254 hosts. If the dynamic pool has 200 addresses available, the remaining 54 addresses can be given to printers or servers as static addresses.
7. Connect the wires for the network. Workstations and servers can be connected with standard Ethernet cables. Connect the switch to the cable router LAN ports by using the uplink or straight port on the switch. If the switch does not have an uplink port, connect any standard port of the switch to a LAN port on the cable router with an Ethernet crossover cable. Ethernet crossover cables can be purchased at any electronics store.
8. Test the services and Internet connectivity. Test each of the workstations to ensure they can connect to the Internet and test any local servers and printers. Print test pages on the shared printers. Test read and write permissions on shared file servers by copying files to the servers and copying files from the server to a workstation.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a cable router with wireless capabilities to give you more flexibility.
• Ensure cable lengths do not exceed 100 meters, or about 328 feet.
• Do not run cables in air ducts unless they are fire-rated. Check local building codes.

Differences Between LAN and WAN

Local Area Networks (LANs):

• Most commonly: Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI
• Advantage: Speed
• Cost center: Dense installation (about one interface per room)
• Current Speed: 10-100 Mbps (mostly 10 Mbps)
• Common uses: File sharing
• Common problems: Cable disruption by users
• Conceptually: A bunch of lines hooking users together

Wide Area Networks (WANs):

• Most commonly: Leased lines, serial links, ISDN, X.25
• Advantage: Distance
• Cost center: Length of long-haul lines (about one interface per 100 miles)
• Current Speed: 0.01 to 45 Mbps (mostly clustered around 1 Mbps)
• Common uses: Email and file transfer (including Web)
• Common problems: Cable disruption by backhoes
• Conceptually: A bunch of lines hooking cities together