setup and configuration
Local Area Network (LAN): Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network, which is limited to a small office, single building, multiple buildings inside a campus etc. Typically a Local Area Network (LAN) is a private network owned and maintained by a single organization. Below image shows a small Local Area Network (LAN) connected together using a Network Switch.
Wide Area Network (WAN): A Wide Area Network (WAN) spans over multiple
geographic locations, which is composed of multiple LANs. It is nearly impossible for a small to
medium organization (except Network Service Providers) to pull network cables between their two
offices in two different countries located 1000s of kilometers away. Network Service Providers
(also called as ISPs) provide the connectivity solutions for Wide Area Networks (WAN).
Below image shows two Local Area Networks (LANs), located at two different geographical
locations connected via Internet to create a Wide Area Network (WAN). LAN 1 is located in
Chennai, India and LAN 2 is located in Manila, Philippines. The aerial distance between Chennai
and Manila is about 4,400 Kilometres. It is almost impossible for a small to medium business to
draw cables between Chennai and Manila. We normally avail the services of an Internet Service
Provider for connectivity between these two offices.