It includes more than one type of computer, and users access data from the University's central administrative computer. This LAN has enhanced the Admissions Office's ability to provide timely communications to candidates for admission to Penn. Dining Services has one of the more complex LANs at Penn, with multiple file servers and client machines distributed all over campus. The information necessary to provide meals to thousands of students has to cross PennNet routers, infrastructure elements that add to the complexity. In addition, the control of card key access to buildings is dependent on this network.
People working in groups often share tasks.
For example, several people may write different parts of a proposal. In a LAN environment, each person can be given access to a single file on a server that contains the entire proposal. Individuals can work on different parts of the proposal simultaneously, without having to make copies or worry about which version is most current. There is only one version. Buying a printer for every computer in an office is very expensive.