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SUBJECT: MEDIA AND TOPOLOGIES

MODULE NO. 01

TITLE: NETWORK TOPOLOGIES AND ELEMENTS

In this Module:

1. Network Topologies
2. Elements of a Network
3. Communication Modes

INTRODUCTION:

There are several network topologies or configurations. Each has its own features and
characteristics that differentiates it from the others. It also has its own advantages and
disadvantages. Knowing all these things is a big help in designing and troubleshooting a network.
This module also covers the elements needed to setup and operate a network. The different
communication modes are also discussed

PRESENTATION:

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES

 network topology – is the physical arrangement of nodes

 node – is any network device such as computer, .workstation, or switching unit
 nodes are connected by physical media such as coaxial cable or fiber-optic cable

Network topologies affect the following:

- reliability and flexibility of a network
- cost of adding nodes to the network
- ease at which the network can grow in the future
- disruption of data flow when nodes are added of deleted
 formulating network topologies reduces the routing workload of workstations
routing – refers to the computational tasks involved in addressing data and defining its
path from source to destination
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 decreasing routing workload increases workstation time in processing data (tasks that end
users are interested in)
 routing burden on a workstation is greater in some topologies and less in other topologies

 topology also affects the total time the network system spends in managing itself
 no one topology is best; some have more advantages that the others
 the best is the one that optimally fills the needs of the user

 the four dominant physical topologies are the mesh, star, ring and bus

 a logical topology uses software to implement the flow of data on a network

 logical topology can use anyone of the physical topologies
Example:
Many bus and ring topologies use a physical star to connect network devices

Network – a collection of devices that are interconnected so they can send data to one
another

Segment - one part of a network

- can have several computers connected to it
- consists of a backbone that is used to connect the computers

Backbone – a cable segment used to connect network devices

- frequently used to connect segments of a network that cluster together in rooms in
a building

Mesh Topology
- each node has a physical connection to all other nodes

Fig.1 Mesh Topology

Star Topology
- consists of a central hub with spokes extending out from it and terminating in nodes
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Fig. 2 Star Topology

 hub receives signals (called data packets) from one computer and relay them to all other
computers connected to the network
 computer to which packet is addressed opens and reads data; all other computers on the
network ignore the packet

Advantages:
- when one computer fails, the rest of the computers in the network is not affected
- when one cable fails, the rest of the cabling system on the network is not affected
- easy to add computers to the network (called scalability)

Disadvantages:
- added cost for the hub
- if the hub fails, the entire network fails
- slow data transmission due to network broadcast
- network broadcast – hub sends received data to all computers on the
network causing unnecessary traffic
- only one computer on the network can transmit at a time

Ring Topology
- nodes are connected to a continuous loop
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- data is passed from mode to node

Fig. 3 Ring Topology

 each computer must have two network ports

- one for the incoming cable and another for the outgoing cable
 data sent by one computer is received by the next computer and passed to the next until it
reaches the destination – the “addressed” computer

Advantages:
- more than one computer can send data at a time
- low attenuation – little signal loss
- packet is examined and regenerated at full strength by each computer until
it reaches its destination

Disadvantages:
- more expensive
- more difficult to install
- many points of failure
- if any computer fails, entire network fails
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Fig. 4 Data Path Redundancies in a Ring Network

Bus Topology
- nodes are connected to a linear cable (backbone) through the NICs (Network Interface
Card)

Fig. 5 Bus Topology

- backbone is a series of connected cable segments

- three-way T connector is used at each junction on the backbone
- 50-ohm terminator is connected at each end of the backbone to prevent data or
signals from bouncing back and forth
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 packet travels along the backbone when one computer sends data
 each computer examines the packet but only the “addressed” computer accepts the packet

Advantages:
- simplest topology to implement
- requires no additional equipment
- uses less cable

Disadvantages:
- only one computer transmits data at a time
- more difficult to add computer to the network (not easily scaled)
- break in the backbone causes failure of entire network
- improper termination causes failure of entire network

Logical Topology
- the Internet is a logical mesh topology, not a physical topology
- devices in the Internet are logically connected by a complex addressing scheme
- addressing scheme uses logical addresses to identify each device

 network topology refers to the physical layout of computers and other equipment in the
network

ELEMENTS OF A NETWORK

Data Flow or Communication

Simplex
- a one-way or unidirectional communication
- data flows from transmitter to receiver but not from receiver to transmitter
- primarily used to supply a peripheral with information or to collect information
from a peripheral

Fig. 6 Simplex Communication

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Half-Duplex
- data flows from transmitter to receiver and from receiver to transmitter but in only
one direction at a time
- used when speed is not a priority
- cost less than full duplex

Fig. 7 Half-Duplex Communication

Full Duplex
- allows data to flow in both directions simultaneously
- a high speed communication
- costs more than half duplex

Fig. 8 Full-Duplex Communication

LAN (Local Area Network)

- collection of computers that are interconnected so that they can communicate and
share information with one another
- covers an area that includes a room, rooms within a building, rooms in several
buildings or several buildings in a metropolitan area

WAN (Wide Area Network)

- interconnecting networks spread around a country or the world
- covers a large geographical area, larger than a metropolitan area
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- lately, it means a network of interconnected networks (LANs), without specifying

geographical area

Baseband Networks
- used when users are in close proximity (such as LAN)
- uses digital signaling to communicate data packets
- only one user at a time is allowed to send data across the network wire

Broadband Networks
- used when the users are dispersed throughout a city and beyond
- may be installed in a building and communicate across a broadband network to
other buildings
- analog modem is used to modulate a carrier frequency that is sent between
communicating nodes
- more than one user at a time can access the network

Server
- a powerful computer on a network that contains a network operating system (NOS)
and manages the flow of data on the network
- can be use as a workhorse for storing large, memory-dependent software; reduces
the cost and complexity of the client computer

Client
- a computer that is networked-controlled by the operating system installed on the
server
- it may contain as much or more computing power than the server
- it is frequently configured to launch application programs (word processing,
databases, spreadsheets, etc.)

Workstation
- a computer that is connected to a network and stores and launches its own
application programs

Host
- any machine that communicates on the network and has been assigned a network
address, such as IP address
- general term for clients and servers

Server-Based Networking
- workstations (or clients of the server) are connected to the server in a point-to-
point fashion through a hub
- they are more common than peer-to-peer networks today, because the number of
users and sophistication of applications demand management capabilities afforded
by servers
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Peer-to-Peer Networking
- all computers perform a dual role as server and workstation
- control of the network is distributed among the nodes; no server is connected to
the network
- can be implemented using any physical media, such as coaxial cable, twisted pairs,
or fiber optics
- best choice for networking in small installation

NIC (Network Interface Card)

Composition:
- transceiver for sending and receiving data frames on and off a network
- hardware needed to format the sending bits and to decipher received frames

- attached into an expansion slot of the motherboard and connects the computer to
the network

- NICs are specific protocol: an Ethernet NIC cannot be used in a token ring
network
- they are also data rate specific: a 10Mbps Ethernet NIC cannot be used in an
Ethernet network that operates at 100Mbps

Network Infrastructure – devices used to transfer data packets

Hub – a single device for connecting nodes together

- has from 4 to 132 ports
- acts as automatic switch that enable workstations, servers, or other network
devices to exchange data

Gateway – device used to convert from one type of data-communication system to another
- converts from one protocol to another such as from OSI Reference Model to the
IBM SNA model for networking

Router- computer used to direct data frames between interconnected networks or to the
appropriate node on the router’s local network
- determines whether to keep received frames on the local network or forward them
to other networks or network segments by:
- comparing the destination address of the frames with information in its
database

- routers are sometimes referred to as default gateways or IP gateways

Types of Hubs:
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Passive – normally small (less than eight ports) and derives its power from the nodes
connected to it
- length between nodes is limited due to signal losses in the network

Active – derives its power from a power supply that is a part of the hub
- uses electrical power to boost the strength of the data signal which increases
transmission distance

Simple Hub
- cannot be software configured
- can be active or passive and are best suited for small networks

Manageable Hub
- active hub that can be software configured from a remote terminal or workstation
- extent of configuration that can be performed is determined by the hub
manufacturer

Stackable Hub
- consists of a port that enables the hub to be directly connected to one or more hubs
- node ports can be added as they are needed by adding additional hubs

Enterprise Hub
- contains a conventional hub used to connect nodes
- has the capability for adding routers and other network devices
- may be housed in a desktop package or it may be housed in a chassis
- chassis type package allows circuit cards pr modules to be added to the hub
- cards or modules may contain circuitry that:
- allows additional ports to be added
- permits the hub to interface different network media (UTP or fiber-optic)
- extends the management of the hub to cover many networks
- expensive, can support hundreds of nodes
- suited for large, interconnected networks

Switching Hub
- uses logical mesh to connect nodes
- each node can be directly connected to other node port
- many nodes can send data at the same time
- expensive and best suited to large, complex networks
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