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What does ‘LAN’ stand for?

LAN stands for local area network. A network is a group of two or more connected computers, and a LAN is a network contained within a small geographic area, usually within the same building. However, Family WiFi networks and small business networks are typical samples of LANs. LANs can also be pretty significant, although it is usually more accurate to classify them as wide area networks (WAN) or metropolitan area networks (MAN) if they take up multiple buildings.

How do LANs work?

Most LANs connect to the Internet at a central point: a router. Home LANs often use a single router, while LANs in larger spaces may use network switches for more efficient packet delivery.

LANs almost always use Ethernet, WiFi, or both to connect devices within the network. Ethernet is a protocol for physical network connections that requires the use of Ethernet cables. WiFi is a protocol for connecting to a network via radio waves.

A variety of devices can connect to LANs, including servers, desktop computers, laptops, printers, IoT devices, and even game consoles. LANs were often routine to provide shared access to internal employees to connected printers or servers in offices.

What tools are needed to set up a LAN?

However, the simplest Internet-connected LANs require only a router and a way for computing devices to connect to the router via Ethernet cables or a WiFi hotspot. LANs without an Internet connection needs a switch for exchanging data. Large LANs, such as those in a large office building, may require additional routers or switches to forward data to the proper devices more efficiently.

Not all LANs connect to the Internet. LANs predate the Internet: the first LANs used in businesses in the late 1970s. (These old LANs used network protocols that are no longer in use today.) The only requirement for setting up a LAN is that the connected devices can exchange data. It usually requires a piece of networking equipment for packet switching, such as a network switch. Today, even non-Internet-connected LANs use the same networking protocols used on the Internet (such as IP).

What is a virtual LAN?

And also, Virtual LANs, or VLANs, can split up traffic on the same physical network into two networks. However, imagine setting up two separate LANs, each with their router and Internet connection, in the same room. VLANs are like that, but they divided virtually using software instead of physically using hardware — only one router with one Internet connection is necessary.

VLANs help with network management, especially with huge LANs. Therefore, by subdividing the network, administrators can manage the web much more quickly. (VLANs are very different from subnets, which are another way of subdividing networks for greater efficiency.)

How does Cloudflare protect LANs?

On-premise business infrastructure, such as LANs and their accompanying routers, switches, and servers, often face malicious attacks, including DDoS attacks. Cloudflare Magic Transit protects on-premise networks and infrastructure from malicious attacks, in addition to accelerating legitimate network traffic. Cloudflare Magic Transit also protects cloud-hosted and hybrid networks.