What is a LAN Port?
A LAN port is a network port of a local area network connection that is used to share files and data between connected devices and as an access point that connects computers and other devices to the Internet. LAN ports enable computers to connect to the ethernet LAN, MAN (metropolitan area network), or WAN (wide area network). Compared to MAN and WAN, LAN connects multiple devices over a short distance.
For instance, in a manufacturing plant, computers, machines, and devices on the same LAN can quickly share files and information with each other and devices like printers. Commonly, you can easily create a small-sized LAN with a router that has around four to eight LAN ports. However, for enterprise level that needs a huge local network, you can change your router with a network hub or a switch made to handle more LAN ports that connect to various devices.
What is a RJ45 LAN Port?
RJ45 LAN port is a LAN port that uses RJ45 ethernet cables. RJ45 or Register Jack-45 is a standardized interface often used for connecting computers onto Ethernet-based local area networks (LAN). Simply said, RJ45 is the plastic connector head located on both ends of a LAN cable.
What is a LAN Cable?
credits: FS Community Cat6 vs Cat7 Cabling
There are various types of LAN cables, from fiber cable, coaxial cable, to the most common copper twisted pair known as Ethernet cable. Ethernet cables are built with RJ45 Ethernet connectors that have 8P8C connectors. 8P8C is the eight pins and eight conductors that connect to each of the twisted pair cables. Additionally, there are different Ethernet cable categories with different data transfer rates. Some of the newer cables range from Cat 5e with 1 Gbps of transfer rate to Cat 6a/Cat 7 with a 10 Gbps transfer rate. It is important to note that Ethernet cables longer than 100 meters can experience a decrease in data transfer rate. Despite that, Ethernet cables are the most common LAN cables used to connect computers, routers, modems, switches, network hubs, printers, gaming consoles, PoE devices, IP cameras, IoT devices, and much more.
Learn More About Gigabit Ethernet
What is LAN and WAN Port?
The physical look of a LAN port and a WAN port can be identical with the same RJ-45 ethernet port. However, some differences between LAN and WAN ports really separate these two network ports. A Wide Area Network or WAN port connects devices with an external network that covers a vast area across national and international borders like the Internet. Therefore, typically, there is a WAN port and four LAN ports in a router. The LAN ports share the internet connection from the WAN with all connected devices such as computers, printers, and IoT devices.
Another differentiator between LAN and WAN ports is the difference in data transfer rate. LAN ports have a higher data transfer speed compared to WAN ports. For instance, LAN ports speed can reach up to 1000 Mbps compared, and WAN ports can only be up to 100 Mbps.
Different Names of LAN
There are various names that can refer to LAN ports. Here are some names that are often used interchangeably as LAN port:
- Ethernet port
- RJ45 port
- LAN RJ45 port
- RJ45 Ethernet port
- Local network port
- Network port
- Network connection port
What Does A LAN Port Look Like?
A LAN port looks like an old landline telephone jack but with a wider size. LAN ports are bigger because the RJ45 LAN ports have eight conductor pins instead of six. Therefore, RJ45 ethernet cables can only fit into RJ45 LAN ports and cannot fit into a telephone jack.
In a WiFi router, WAN and LAN ports often look very similar. Some easy ways to distinguish them are from their colors and numbers of ports. A router has more LAN ports than WAN ports, often one WAN port and four LAN ports. Moreover, the colors of LAN ports will be different from the WAN port. Furthermore, WAN or Internet are often written on the WAN ports and Ethernet for LAN ports.
How Does A LAN Port work?
In computers, LAN ports are connected to the device's motherboard through a NIC (Network Internet Controller). NIC often has different specs and brands, and you can change them with a different type of NIC depending on your computer's needs. Other common locations of LAN ports are located in switches, network hubs, modems, and routers. Connecting devices into LAN requires an Ethernet cable to connect two LAN-compatible devices. Connecting your LAN devices with an Ethernet cable into a router or modem that is connected to a WAN will enable your device to access the Internet.
What Can You Do with LAN Ports?
PoE
PoE or Power over Ethernet is a technology that enables LAN ports to pass electric power through an Ethernet cable to LAN devices. PoE enables powered devices such as wireless access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones to receive both data and power from a single Ethernet cable. With LAN ports that support PoE, the applications can save cost and time while improving reliability, flexibility, and scalability.
Wake on LAN
WoL or Wake-on-LAN is a technology that allows a computer to be powered on remotely through a LAN connection from a shutdown, hibernate, or standby position. WoL is an industry-standard protocol for turning on computers remotely. To support Wake-on-LAN, you want your motherboard and network card to support the Wake-on-LAN function before you enable it through your BIOS or network card's firmware. Nowadays, modern motherboards and network cards support the Wake-on-LAN feature.
PXE Boot
PXE Boot or Preboot Execution Environment is a technology that enables a computer to load an OS (operating system) remotely through LAN. Servers and clients often use PXE boot to allow remote computers to install an OS through LAN quickly. With PXE boot, system integrators can quickly install operating systems for large computer deployments simultaneously over a Local Area Network or LAN.
10GbE LAN
10 GbE LAN is one of the fastest LAN connections with a data transfer rate of 10 Gigabit or 10 billion bits per second. Being ten times faster than the 1 GbE LAN, 10 GbE LAN provides a transfer speed of 1250 MBps which is even faster than WiFi-6. Moreover, devices with 10GbE LAN can run in a full-duplex mode that provides faster throughput speeds by allowing devices to send and receive data simultaneously.
LAN Ports in Industrial Computing
Dual 10GbE LAN Port Modules
Premio provides an expandable Dual 10 Gigabit LAN Ports Module for its industrial embedded systems to meet specific industrial requirements that need high-speed RJ45 LAN ports. The Dual 10 Gbe modules can be easily installed into the rugged computer's universal I/O bracket and are connected to the motherboard's PCIe 3.0 slot. Moreover, the 10 Gbe modules is built with Intel's X710-AT2 chipset and an optional PoE feature for better performance.
Key Features:
- Intel® Ethernet Controller X710-AT2
- 1x PCIe x1 Gold finger (x4 Lane)
- 2x 10GbE LAN, RJ45 Port
- RCO-3000-CFL
- ACO-6000-CFL
- RCO-6000-CFL
Multiple LAN Modules – x4 LAN Ports
Premio offers an x4 LAN ports module for its industrial computers to provide rich LAN ports support. With the x4 LAN ports module, Premio's industrial computers can reach up to x16 LAN ports expansion for industrial applications such as railway surveillance systems. Additionally, there are optional PoE and M12 LAN ports for mission-critical industrial applications.
Key Features:
- Intel® Ethernet Controller I350 or I250
- 1x PCIe x4 Gold finger (x4 Lane)
- 4x 1GbE LAN, RJ45 Port
- Optional PoE module
- Optional M12 LAN Ports
Compatible Products:
- RCO-3000 Series
- ACO-6000 Series
- RCO-6000 Series
Why Premio?
Premio is a global solutions provider that has been designing and manufacturing top-notch industrial computers for over 30 years in the United States. Our solutions are designed to operate reliably and optimally in the most challenging environmental conditions. Moreover, Premio's expandable LAN modules are specifically built to withstand extreme environments while maintaining robust network performances. In conclusion, Premio offers the most high-end computing solutions and custom solutions for our customers. If you need assistance finding the best industrial 10GbE computing solutions, don't hesitate to contact us. One of our industrial computing professionals will assist your best industrial computing solution based on your specific needs.
