Lecture 2 Summary: Network Classifications

Connection Types:
 Point-to-point: Dedicated link between 2 devices
 Multipoint: More than 2 devices share a single link.

Classification Area Covered Basis:

 Local Area Network (LAN): Small geographical area (switch is used)
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Larger than LAN, Smaller than WAN
 Wide Area Network (WAN): Large geographical area  Connects 2 LANs
o Point-to-point WAN: 2 devices
o Switched WAN: Combination of several Point-to-point Connections

internetworking/internet: when 2 or more networks are connected (different than Internet with
capital I)

Classification According to Network Model:

 Peer-to-peer (P2P): All devices are equal  Same abilities/resources
o E.g: Windows Workgroup

 Client/Server: Server nodes provide services to client nodes

o E,g: Mail Servers/ Web Servers
Classification  Network Topology:
 Bus Topology:
o All devices connected to single cable (BUS)

o Terminator part terminates bus ends

o Message travelling thru Bus is heard by all devices but enters device specified by
the header
o Terminator absorbs data frame

o Advantages:
 Easy Installation
 Cost Effective (Less Cables)
o Disadvantages

 Faulty cable  Entire network is down

 Difficult troubleshooting
 Slow data flow due to heavy traffic

 Star Topology:
o Centralized Hub connecting the devices

o Point-to-point between device and hub

o Types:

 Broadcasted (Hubbed)
 Large hub number  High traffic
 Maximum hub number is 4
 Switched
 o Advantages (Anagram: S-E-N-D-C-C):

 Simple device Addition

 Easy Troubleshoot
 No disruptions when adding/removing devices
 Device failure doesn’t destroy network
 Centralized Control
 Centralized Network Monitoring
o Disadvantages:
 Central device fails  Network fails
 Requires more cables
 Expensive

 Ring Topology:
o Closed loop shape
o One-way data flow

o Devices act as repeaters to propagate messages

o Steps for message sending:

 Token (Short message) originates at master station and passed

 Sender station waits for token to start sending
 Token changed to connecter message, appending message data and placed
on ring path
 Non-receiving devices ignore and pass on connecter message
 Receiver device copy message and modify it to signify receiving it
 After full revolution, sender checks if message was received  replaces
connector with token
o Advantages:
 Equal access for all users
 Perform well under traffic
 o Disadvantages:

 Single device failure  network goes down

 Difficult to troubleshoot
 Adding/Removing devices causes network disruption

 Mesh Topology:
o Each PC is connected to every PC
o Types:

 Full Mesh
 Partial Mesh  Not all PC are connected to every PC
o Simplex mode  n(n-1) links needed
o Duplex Mode  n(n-1)/2 links needed

o n-1 ports on each devices

o Advantages:

 Highest fault tolerance compared to other topologies

o Disadvantages:
 Expensive  each connection requires a cable

 Hybrid Topology:
o More than one topology in a network

o E.g  Stared Bus

  Star networks connected to common bus line topology
o Advantages:

 Simple Network Expansion

o Disadvantages:
 Failed Hub disconnects its devices from other networks along the line

Classification  Data Interchange Method:

 Three Phases:
o Circuit Establishment
o Data flow

o Circuit Disconnection
o Switched Networks Types:

 Circuit Switched Communication

 Switch can only be active/inactive
 No storing capabilities (only forwarding)
 Inefficient
 Long setup time
 Inflexible
 Blocking occurs due to high traffic
 Packet-Switching Communication
 Blocks of data called packets
o Payload  user data

o Header  control info

 Switch stores and forwards data

 Advantages:
o Efficiency  Queuing and transmission

o Data rate conversion  Equalizing rates thru buffering

o Always accepting data  No blocking
 o Prioritization

 Disadvantages  Delayed/slow data transfer sometimes

Internet  World wide web. Thousands of networks
 Backbones
 Provider Networks
 Customer Networks

Accessing the Internet:

 Telephone Networks
 Cable Networks
 Wireless Networks
 Direct Connection
 Answers To Questions

6(6−1)
1. =15 links. 5 Ports
2
2. 4 Repeater Hops
3. Backbones and Provider
4. Half Duplex
5. Point-to-Point
6. Star backbone, ring networks

Star
Hub

7. Answers:
a. Mesh  n(n-1)/2 (assuming duplex mode)
b. Bus  1 cable link, n drop lines
c. Star  n cable links