LAN (Local Area Network) can use several Network Protocols to define the Network. These protocols are defined at the OSI Data Link Layer
| Protocol | Cable used | Topology | Media Access | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Ethernet | Twisted Pair or Fiber Optic | Star | CSMA/CD | Fast; Easy setup and maintenance | Possible Collision issues |
| Token Ring | Twisted Pair | Ring | Token Passing | Low error rate | Slow (4 or 16 Mbps) |
| FDDI | Fiber Optic (Dual counter rotating ring) | Ring | Token Passing | Low error rate. Redundancy. | Expensive |
| ARCNet | Coaxial | Star | Token Passing | Predicable Network Performance | Slow. (Almost extinct) |
Two additional Data Link Layer protocols
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol):
Coverts IP address to MAC Address. An ARP cache is maintained in the system that has a table mapping of IP address to MAC address in the Network.
RARP (Revers Address Resolution Protocol):
Convers MAC address to IP Address
Classifications of LAN transmissions:
Unicast: Data is transmitted from source to a destination system
Multicast: Data is transmitted from source to multiple destinations using a special multicast IP address
Broadcast: Data is transmitted from source to the every device on the Network by using broadcast IP address
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