The Evolution of the Local Network
Geoff Letts · EEC 94: Electrical Engineering Congress 1994; Preprints; Enabling Technologies, Developing Industry; Congress and Exhibition · 1994
The Information Technology (IT) make-up in large and small organisations is changing. Data Processing and storage is moving out from centralised systems towards the desktop, and work groups are becoming a common structure to share processes and information across networked workstations. The Local Area Network (LAN) is key to this new model of deploying IT resources. Client-server processes, mail messages, groupware processes, data backups and application downloads are all examples of traffic that rely on the LAN being available, providing effective capacity and performing efficiently. The LAN provides the distribution and concentration for traffic that may pass onto wide area networks. This paper reviews the high points in the evolution of the LAN from its conception nearly thirty years ago, and looks at what is 'state of the art' today, taking a largely practical perspective. The market and user drivers for LAN technology are discussed, together with the way that vendors are positioning to deliver equipment for the local network. Classes of LAN equipment are defined. Finally, some key trends are identified that will give a perspective on the future local network.