IMPLEMENTING A LAN SYSTEM FOR NETWORK DIAL UP ACCESS
This research considers the feasibility of implementing a LAN system for a hypothetical organization. Additionally, significant problem areas that might be encountered by the organization in such an undertaking, together with suggested solutions, are also considered. Lastly, a commercially available LAN system is recommended for the organization.
Most data communications facilities are provided by common carriers or by value added carriers. An alternative to these public utility type communications facilities is the local area network, or LAN (Liberman, 1992, pp. 58 59).
A LAN is independent of the public utility type communications facilities, and typically relies on the use of coaxial cables to connect computers, word processors, terminals, electronic copying machines, and electronic dictation systems within a limited physical area, such as an office building or a manufacturing complex (Data Communications, 1992, pp. 205 217).
The major commercial applications of the LAN concept have been developed and are marketed by: (1) Xerox (the "Ethernet" LAN); (2) Novell (the Netware LAN), and (3) IBM (token ring LAN). Each of the commercially marketed LANs differ in some technical aspects; however, each functions in a similar manner.
At one point in the history of scientific thought, it was thought that the universal medium in space was something called luminiferous ether, and it was also thought that this ether was the carrier of electromagnetic waves (Newell and Sproull, 1982, pp. 943 952). Although the luminiferous ether theory had long since been discarded, Xerox decided to add a touch of scientific history to its newly developed LAN, and named the system "Ethernet."
The concept upon which Xerox based its Ethernet LAN had its origins in a radio based, packet switching network developed at the University of Hawaii, which was called the "Aloha" network (Stokes, 198...