Unit 2 : Networking

Lesson [04]
Networking Topologies

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Module Learning Outcomes

▪ LO1. Examine networking principles and their protocols.

▪ LO2. Explain networking devices and operations.

▪ LO3. Design efficient networked systems.

▪ LO4. Implement and diagnose networked systems.

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What is a Topology?

• A network topology describes the physical connections and logical

communication pathways between objects in a network.
• The term is used to describe a variety of networking concepts.
• Topologies are used to describe connections between computers (or
hosts) in a network, between routers in a network, or even between wide
area network connections.
• There are two types of topologies.
✓Physical
✓Logical

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Physical Topology

• A Physical Topology describes the way in which the devices are

connected.

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Bus Topology
• In Bus topology, all devices share single communication line or
cable.
• Bus topology either uses CSMA/CD technology or recognises one
host as Bus Master to solve the issue while multiple hosts sending
data at the same time.
• A failure of a device does not affect the other devices. But a failure of
the shared communication line can make all other devices stop
functioning.
• Both ends of the shared channel have a line terminator.
• The data is sent in only one direction and as soon as it reaches the
extreme end, the terminator removes the data from the line.

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Ring Topology
• In ring topology, each host machine connects to exactly two other
machines, creating a circular network structure.
• When one host tries to communicate or send message to a host which is
not adjacent to it, the data travels through all intermediate hosts.
• To connect one more host in the existing structure, the administrator may
need only one more extra cable.
• Failure of any host results in failure of the whole ring. Thus, every
connection in the ring is a point of failure. There are methods which
employ one more backup ring.

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Star Topology

▪ One of the most common network setups where each of the

devices and computers on a network connect to a central hub.
▪ If the central hub fails, the entire network becomes unusable
▪ Star topology is not expensive as to connect one more host,
only one cable is required and configuration is simple.

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Tree Topology

• Also known as Hierarchical Topology, this is the most common form of

network topology in use presently.
• This topology imitates an extended Star topology and inherits properties of
bus topology.
• This topology divides the network in to multiple levels/layers of network

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Mesh Topology
• In this type of topology, a host is connected to one or multiple hosts.
• This topology has hosts in point-to-point connection with every other host
or may also have hosts which are in point-to-point connection to few hosts
only.
• Mesh technology comes in two types:
• Full Mesh - All hosts have a point-to-point connection to every other host
• Partial Mesh - Not all hosts have a point-to-point connection to every other host

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Logical Topology

▪ The Logical Topology describes how the devices

communicate or the shape of the communication path

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Ethernet

• Ethernet is a widely-deployed LAN technology.

• This technology was invented by Bob Metcalfe and D.R. Boggs in
the year 1970. It was standardised in IEEE 802.3 in 1980.
• Ethernet shares media. A Network which uses shared media has
high probability of data collision.
• Ethernet uses Carrier Sense Multi Access/Collision Detection
(CSMA/CD) technology to detect collisions.
• When a collision occurs in Ethernet, all its hosts roll back, wait for
some random amount of time, and then re-transmit the data.

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Ethernet

• An Ethernet connector is a network interface card equipped with

48-bits MAC address.
• Traditional Ethernet uses 10BASE-T specifications.
• 10BASE-T Ethernet provides transmission speed up to
10MBPS and uses coaxial cable or Cat-5 twisted pair cable with
RJ-45 connector.
• Ethernet follows star topology with segment length up to 100
meters.

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Fast Ethernet

• To encompass the need of fast emerging software and

hardware technologies, Ethernet extends itself as Fast-
Ethernet.
• It can run on UTP, Optical Fibre, and wirelessly too.
• It can provide speeds up to 100 MBPS. This standard is named
as 100BASE-T in IEEE 803.2 using Cat-5 twisted pair cable.

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Gigabit Ethernet

• After being introduced in 1995, Fast-Ethernet could enjoy its

high-speed status only for 3 years till Gigabit Ethernet was
introduced.
• Giga-Ethernet provides speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
• IEEE802.3ab standardised Gigabit Ethernet over UTP using
Cat-5, Cat-5e and Cat-6 cables.

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VLAN

▪ A VLAN (virtual LAN) is a subnetwork which can group together collections

of devices on separate physical local area networks (LANs).
▪ VLANs make it easy for network administrators to partition a single
switched network to match the functional and security requirements of their
systems without having to run new cables or make major changes in their
current network infrastructure

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VLAN

• In this diagram, different VLANs are depicted in different colour codes.

• Hosts in one VLAN, even if connected on the same Switch cannot see or
speak to other hosts in different VLANs.
• To route packets between two different VLANs a Layer-3 device such as a
Router is required

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Summary

▪ Topologies
▪ Physical (Bus,Ring,Star,Tree Mesh)
▪ Logical (Ethernet ,VLAN)

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Thank You

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