(n.) Any physical network technology that operates at high speeds over short distances, such as several thousand yards. Technologies that play roles in a LAN include Ethernet, token ring, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) II, 10BASE-T, and Systems Network Architecture (SNA). The system of cables and interfaces controlled by a communications protocol that connects microcomputers for sharing resources and peripherals is all part of the LAN. Connection is also possible with an infrared link. Compare wide area network.
local area network [LAN]
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