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| Computer network types by scale |
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Ahome network orhome area network (HAN) is a type ofcomputer network, specifically a type oflocal area network (LAN),[1] that facilitates communication among devices within the close vicinity of ahome. Devices capable of participating in this network, for example,smart devices such as network printers and handheld mobile computers, often gain enhancedemergent capabilities through their ability to interact. These additional capabilities can be used to increase thequality of life inside the home in a variety of ways, such asautomation of repetitive tasks, increased personal productivity, enhanced home security, and easier access to entertainment. Other than a regular LAN that are centralized and useIP technologies, a home network may also make use of directpeer-to-peer methods as well as non-IP protocols such asBluetooth.
Certain devices in a home network are primarily concerned with enabling or supporting the communications of the kinds of end devices residents more directly interact with. Unlike theirdata center counterparts, these networking devices are compact and passively cooled, aiming to be as hands-off and non-obtrusive as possible.
Agateway establishesphysical anddata link layer connectivity to aWAN provided by a service provider. Home routers provided byinternet service providers (ISP) usually have themodem integrated within the unit. It is effectively a client of the external DHCP servers owned by the ISP.
Arouter establishesnetwork layer connectivity between awide area network (WAN) and the local area network of the residence. ForIPv4 networking, the device may also perform the function ofnetwork address translation establishing aprivate network with a set of independent addresses for the network. These devices often contain an integrated wireless access point and a multi-port EthernetLAN switch.
Awireless access point provides connectivity within the home network for mobile devices and many other types using theWi-Fi standard. When a router includes this service, it is referred to as awireless router, which is predominantly the case.
Anetwork switch permits the connection of multiple wiredEthernet devices to the home network. While the needs of most home networks are satisfied with wireless connectivity, some devices require wired connection. Such devices, for exampleIP cameras andIP phones, are sometimes powered via their network cable withpower over Ethernet (PoE).
Anetwork bridge binds two different network interfaces to each other, often in order to grant a wired-only device access to a wireless network medium.
Controllers forhome automation orsmart home hubs act as a controller for light bulbs, smart plugs, and security devices.
| Home networking standards |
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| IEEE standardized |
| ITU-T recommendation |
Home networks may use either wired or wireless connectivity methods that are found and standardized onlocal area networks orpersonal area networks. One of the most common ways of creating a home network is by usingwireless radio signal technology; the 802.11 network as certified by theIEEE. Most wireless-capable residential devices operate at a frequency of 2.4GHz under 802.11b and 802.11g or 5 GHz under 802.11a. Some home networking devices operate in both radio-band signals and fall within the 802.11n or 802.11ac standards.Wi-Fi is a marketing and compliance certification for IEEE 802.11 technologies.[2] TheWi-Fi Alliance has tested compliant products, and certifies them for interoperability.
Low power, close range communication based onIEEE 802.15 standards has a strong presence in homes.Bluetooth continues to be the technology of choice for most wireless accessories such as keyboards, mice, headsets, and game controllers. These connections are often established in a transient, ad-hoc manner and are not thought of as permanent residents of a home network. A "low-rate" version of the original WPAN protocol was used as the basis ofZigbee.
Home networks may consist of a variety of devices and services.Personal computers such asdesktops and mobile computers liketablets andsmartphones are commonly used on home networks to communicate with other devices. Anetwork attached storage (NAS) device may be part of the network, for general storage or backup purposes. Aprint server can be used to share any directly connected printers with other computers on the network.
Smart speakers may be used on a network for streaming media.DLNA is a common protocol used for interoperability between networked media-centric devices in the home, allowing devices likestereo systems on the network to access the music library from a PC on the same network, for example. Using an additional Internet connection,TVs for instance may stream online video content, whilevideo game consoles can use online multiplayer.
Traditionally, data-centric equipment such as computers and media players have been the primary tenants of a home network. However, due to the lowering cost of computing and the ubiquity of smartphone usage, many traditionally non-networked home equipment categories now include new variants capable of control or remote monitoring through an app on a smartphone. Newer startups and established home equipment manufacturers alike have begun to offer these products as part of a "Smart" or "Intelligent" or "Connected Home" portfolio. Examples of such may include "connected" light bulbs (see alsoLi-Fi), home security alarms[3] and smoke detectors. These often run over the Internet so that they can be accessed remotely.
Individuals may opt to subscribe to managedcloud computing services that provide such services instead of maintaining similar facilities within their home network. In such situations, local services along with the devices maintaining them are replaced by those in an externaldata center and made accessible to the home-dweller's computing devices via aWAN Internet connection.
Apple devices aim to make networking as hidden and automatic as possible, utilizing azero-configuration networking implementation calledBonjour embedded within their line of software and hardware products.
Microsoft offers simple access control features built into their Windows operating system. Homegroup is a feature that allowsshared disk access, shared printer access and shared scanner access among all computers and users (typically family members) in a home, in a similar fashion as in a small officeworkgroup, e.g., by means of distributed peer-to-peer networking (without a central server). Additionally, ahome server may be added for increased functionality. TheWindows HomeGroup feature was introduced with MicrosoftWindows 7 in order to simplify file sharing in residences. All users (typically all family members), except guest accounts, may access any shared library on any computer that is connected to the home group. Passwords are not required from the family members during logon. Instead, secure file sharing is possible by means of a temporary password that is used when adding a computer to the HomeGroup.[4]