LANdesign

LANdesign is the practice of planning, designing, deploying, and maintaining local area networks (LANs) to meet organizational needs. It covers wired and wireless networks within offices, campuses, and data centers, and encompasses the selection of topology, media, devices, and security controls to ensure reliable connectivity and performance.

Core considerations include topology and layout, often preferring star or hierarchical designs, cabling strategies, and media choices such as Ethernet copper and fiber. Key equipment includes switches, access points, routers, and firewalls, with attention to redundancy through link aggregation, switch stacking, and loop prevention protocols. Design also addresses addressing schemes, VLANs for traffic segmentation, quality of service for priority traffic, and security measures such as network access control and segmentation.

The design process typically follows requirements gathering, site surveys, capacity planning, risk assessment, implementation, and testing, followed by documentation and ongoing management. Standards commonly referenced include IEEE 802.3 for Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 for wireless LANs, IEEE 802.1Q for VLAN tagging, and IEEE 802.1X for authentication. Management practices emphasize monitoring, change control, and configuration backup.

Emerging trends influence LANdesign, such as software-defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, and automation to simplify provisioning and maintenance. Integration with cloud services, the deployment of contemporary wireless standards like Wi‑Fi 6/6E, and power over Ethernet for flexible device deployment are also shaping modern LAN design. Distinctions are often made between campus LANs, data-center LANs, and multi-site or industrial deployments.