- LAN = Local Area Network
- WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network
- WAN = Wide Area Network
Advantages of WLAN's
Disadvantages of WLAN's
- Cheaper and less cable
- New workstations can be added anywhere
- Different devices can be connected easily
Disadvantages of WLAN's
- Slower transfer rate
- Limited Transmission distance
- Physical obstructions can limit transmission
- Less security
Connecting a LAN to the Internet
To connect a LAN to the internet you need a router and a proxy server. The reason we can connect to the internet though is because the internet itself is just a very large WAN. A WAN is a long range network of lots of computers in different locations so that is the principle of the internet. This can be accessed through internet browsers such as Firefox, Chrome and any others. Furthermore to access the internet you need an ISP or an internet service provider, these are from large company's such as Sky, BT and Virgin. All the ISP's do is retrieve the data from the internet, send it to your router and then display it on your screen or browser. All these company's differ on price (Most of the time a monthly fee) and speed of data packages but the speed of your internet can sometimes depend on where you live in a country or in the world as all internet speeds differ around the world and around the country. Most ISP's have now began to ensure a certain speed but not all can cope.
Proxy Servers
Proxy servers are large servers that can store and cache web pages, monitor internet usage and can also block certain unwanted sites. Using a proxy server, most previously visited sites will load quicker as they have been stored on your proxy server.