LAN TOPOLOGIES

- Describes the the layout of the cables and

workstations and the location of all network
components.

- Composed of Bus, Ring, Star, Meshed and

even Hybrid topology

MEDIA TYPES
- The cables or connections in a physical
topology.
- Four most common media types are:
Coaxial cable Wireless LAN
Twisted Pair - uses a central device called an Access point
Fiber Optic - uses a shared connection to access network resources
Wireless LAN

- A coaxial cable contains a center conductor, made of copper, surrounded

by a plastic jacket, with a braided shield over the jacket.
- Two types are Thicknet and Thinnet.

- Twisted -pair cable consists of multiple, individually insulated wires that

are twisted together in pairs.
- The cheapest of all cables
- May be available in different Categories.
- May be shielded or unshielded

Fiber Optic Cable:

- A cable that transmits light rather than electricity. Microwave radio
- Data runs are measured in kilometers.
- Used on high speed backbones  Utilizes air waves as a transmission medium
- Very expensive and difficult to work with.  Microwave links carry thousands of voice channels
 Utilizes optical waveguides and light sources to propagate  Low to medium capacity
signals  Low initial investment particularly on medium
 A dielectric waveguide used for the propagation of capacity
electromagnetic energy at optical frequencies  Short repair time and service interruption
 High capacity  Short implementation time
 High initial investment
 Vulnerable to route damage
 Long service interruption