computers. In this section we briefly survey the components, configurations, benefits, and drawbacks of LANs.
At the heart of a LAN is the workstation, a .desktop task-oriented area that con-
sists generally of a processor and video display screen. Three levels of workstations can be identified: a microcomputer-based workstation, a traditional workstation, and a superworkstation. All three levels of workstations are used with LANs. In ad-
dition to providing relatively powerful microcomputer processors, these worksta-
tions often include features such as windows and graphics displays. They are typically linked to devices such as graphics printers, teleconferencing video screens and audio units, laser printers, and a variety of hardware devices known as servers.
In smaller LANs every workstation functions as both a client (e.g., a workstation that requests services from a server) and a server (e.g., a workstation that provides requested services to the client). Thus all users can share data and files on all work-
stations in the LAN. This type of LAN is called a peer-to-peer network since no workstations are dedicated to performing only server functions. Compared to a server network (described below), a peer-to-peer network is less costly, easier to in-
stall, and performs about as well as a server network of the same size. Consequently, the number of these smaller networks is expected to significantly increase in future years. For instance, the microcomputers at the home office of Infoage are joined to-
gether in a peer-to-peer LAN. This network connects the president's office with the major departments within the firm. Within the treasurer/controller's department, several other workstations are also connected to the LAN. Infoage's LAN is not con-
nected to the microcomputers located at the two outlets; thus their network is not wide-area.
Currently, most LANs found in larger firms are server networks, which may in-
terconnect hundreds of workstations. Compared with peer-to-peer networks, server networks are more difficult to implement and manage, but provide users with a