Chapter 7, Problem 2E

Program Plan Intro

Local area network (LAN):

• Local area network (LAN) is a collection of small computer or other workstation devices placed within a confined area such as a single room, building or group of buildings by a common cable.
• It can be a part of a bigger backbone network connected to other LANs, a host workstation or public networks.
• LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, when compared with the data transmitted over a telephone line.
  • Only limited distance and limited number of computers can be attached to a single LAN.

Explanation of Solution

Cables used in LAN:

• LANs (local area networks) commonly use “twisted pair” cable to build a network.
• Twisted pair is an ordinary copper wire which is intertwining with two or more wires twisted around each other.
• There are two types of twisted pair cable. They are,
  • Shielded twisted pair
  • Unshielded twisted pair

Shielded twisted pair (STP) cable:

• It is covered by an additional copper braid foil wrapping. This shielding helps to protect the signals on the cables from external interference.
• It is majorly used in Telephone Company to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic induction...

Explanation of Solution

Topology used in LAN:

Some of the basic types of topology used in LAN are as follows:

Star topology - All nodes are separately connected to a central connection point like a switch or a hub...

Explanation of Solution

Cable plan in LAN:

A cable plan is a plan for the network layout. It always updates cable documentation immediately on installing or removing a cable or hub.

Needs of cable plan:

• Most of the new buildings have a distinct local area network (LAN) cable plan like electrical cables and telephone cables.
• Likewise, in old buildings the new LAN cabling is installed. Because, 20 to 50 percent of LAN cables are actually needed to make future expansion simple...