Thursday, September 18, 2008

LAN Party Equipment

Patrons

The sort of equipment someone would take to a LAN party, be it a small or large one, includes:

Hardware

  • Computer
  • Monitor
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse and mouse pad
  • Headphones/Speakers (Usually Headphones as it is common for organizers of larger LAN parties to disallow the use of speakers as it distracts other party goers)
  • Microphone
  • Power cables for monitor and computer
  • Surge Protector (A power strip will suffice if a Surge Protector is not available, but doesn't afford the same level of protection against spikes and fluctuations in power.)
  • Network cables
  • Network hub or switch

Software

Host

The host's job in a LAN party involves much more work, especially in large parties:

  • Power. Most hosts should allow for about 350-400 watts of power per attendant on average, with approximately 80% utilization per circuit. (E.g., in North America, this would be five to six people on a typical 20A Circuit.)
  • Networking. Ethernet networks are almost universally used. In large parties, a common configuration scheme is a Gigabit Ethernet backbone switch, and a high-speed internet router and Fast Ethernet switches connected to that. Servers for basic network services (DHCP,DNS,Proxy server, etc.). In smaller parties, the host's existing network will often do.
  • Space. Computer monitors, keyboards, and mouse area take up a significant amount of space. Hosts should see to it there is enough room available for the number of people planning to attend.
  • Cooling. Running a number of computers and monitors together in a room can raise heat issues that may not just affect comfort but the computers themselves. This is usually not an issue in larger venues, but may be neglected in a home setting until it's too late.
  • Information services. LAN parties of some size often have a video projector to distribute important information, and a stage of some sort to announce competition winners. Bigger LAN parties may also have internal net radio, internal web sites, and even an internal IP based television channel.
  • Planning. Nothing is worse for patrons than showing up to an empty LAN party, or finding out that few people are going to the current one.

Culture

LAN parties have their own unique culture. Attendees often show off their computers with flashy aftermarket lighting, plasma screens, enhanced speakers, and many other types of computer accessories (otherwise known as Case modding).[9] Highly caffeinated drinks, termed energy drinks, are very popular in these events to improve concentration and stamina as LAN parties often run into the early morning hours.[10] Large parties can last for several days with no scheduled breaks. Often sleep is compromised to play throughout the night and into the next day.

Gaming console system links

Another type of LAN Party is a gaming console System Link. It can range from a small group of friends linking at least two consoles with LAN capabilities (such as the Xbox or Xbox 360) together with a Cat 5 crossover cable, to a separate part of a bigger, established LAN Party. At these, many people connect their consoles to an existing LAN Network already available using a standard Cat 5 cable. Most consoles are capable of networks between as many as 32 units. It is becoming more common for different consoles to be present at larger LAN events giving a massive array of different games, on different formats available to play. This functionality is similar to Sega's DirectLink for Sega Saturn.

This article from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAN_party

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