When you are setting up a local area network, also know as a LAN, you need to be sure that you have all of the correct hardware before you begin. If you do not, you will not be able to complete the setup. There are not all that many pieces that are needed, so it should not be hard for you to find the things that you need. With a little bit of time, you will be able to establish a network in your home, school, or place of business that will help people to connect with one another and communicate at a high level. The first thing that you need to purchase is a central server. All of your computers will be hooked into this. It provides the main hub that stores all of the data and ties all of the computers together. Some people will even have such extensive networks that they will need multiple servers to hold all of the information that they possess. If this is the case in your situation, you can buy a few servers and a server switch. They can then be connected with ethernet cables to form a server base. Next, you need to get one of two types of routers. You can either get a hard-wired router that requires all of the computers to be connected to it with cables, or you can get a wireless router that allows them to connect from remote locations. Wireless routers are the more popular choice in the modern day because they help to reduce the amount of materials that you need. They also make it possible for mobile computers such as laptops to connect to the network from anywhere. Finally, you just need to get a number of console computers. These are the devices through which people will connect to the network. All computers will not be allowed. A password will be required. You can program the console computers that you buy to automatically remember any passwords that you have established. This will enable your employees or family members to access the network with ease, but it will also keep out all potential intruders.