COMPENDIUM OF NOTES IN TLE

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

TECHNOLOGY
Second Quarter

Prepared by:
RAYMOND G. PUNO
Teacher I

Noted by: Approved by:

NELIA P. ABAYA, Ed.D. ANGEL M. VILLAMIN, Ed.D.
Head Teacher VI, TLE Principal III
Chapter 5
Network Topologies

Network Topology

Network topology refers to how various nodes, devices, and connections on your network
are physically or logically arranged in relation to each other. Think of your network as a city,
and the topology as the road map. Just as there are many ways to arrange and maintain a city—
such as making sure the avenues and boulevards can facilitate passage between the parts of
town getting the most traffic—there are several ways to arrange a network. Each has
advantages and disadvantages and depending on the needs of your company, certain
arrangements can give you a greater degree of connectivity and security.

There are two approaches to network topology: physical and logical. Physical network
topology, as the name suggests, refers to the physical connections and interconnections
between nodes and the network—the wires, cables, and so forth. Logical network topology is
a little more abstract and strategic, referring to the conceptual understanding of how and why
the network is arranged the way it is, and how data moves through it.

Importance of Network Topology

The layout of your network is important for several reasons. Above all, it plays an essential
role in how and how well your network functions. Choosing the right topology for your
company’s operational model can increase performance while making it easier to locate faults,
troubleshoot errors, and more effectively allocate resources across the network to ensure
optimal network health. A streamlined and properly managed network topology can increase
energy and data efficiency, which can in turn help to reduce operational and maintenance
costs.

The way a network is arranged can make or break network functionality, connectivity, and
protection from downtime. The question of, “What is network topology?” can be answered
with an explanation of the two categories in the network topology.

• Physical – The physical network topology refers to the actual connections (wires,
cables, etc.) of how the network is arranged. Setup, maintenance, and provisioning
tasks require insight into the physical network.
• Logical – The logical network topology is a higher-level idea of how the network is set
up, including which nodes connect to each other and in which ways, as well as how data
is transmitted through the network. Logical network topology includes any virtual and
cloud resources.
Common Types of Network Topology

Building a local area network (LAN) topology can be make-or-break for your business,
as you want to set up a resilient, secure, and easy-to-maintain topology. There are several
different types of network topology, and all are suitable for different purposes, depending on
the overall network size and your objectives.

1. Point-to-point topology

This is the simplest form of network topology. In this topology, two end devices directly
connect. The following image shows a few examples of this topology.

2. Point-to-multipoint topology
In this topology, an end device connects directly to multiple end devices in the network.
Just like mesh topology, this topology is also used in the WAN network to connect multiple
remote sites/locations/offices with a central site/location/office.
The following image shows an example of the point-to-multipoint topology.

Example of a Point-to-multipoint topology.

A remote router connected to other remote routers

using wireless network.

Remote = other location

 3. Bus topology

A bus topology orients all the devices on a network along a single cable running in a single
direction from one end of the network to the other—which is why it’s sometimes called a “line
topology” or “backbone topology.” Data flow on the network also follows the route of the
cable, moving in one direction.

To connect a computer to the backbone cable, a drop cable is used. To connect the drop
cable to the computer and backbone cable, the BNC plug and BNC T connector are used
respectively.

This topology is no longer used.

BNC connectors (Bayonet Nut Coupling)

BNC connectors are used with miniature-to-
subminiature coaxial cable in radio, television,
and other radio-frequency electronic equipment,
test instruments, and video signals. The BNC was
commonly used for early computer networks,
including ARCnet, the IBM PC Network, and the
10BASE2 variant of Ethernet

Parts of a BNC Connector

BNC Connectors used in a Bus topology

 Example of a Bus Topology with BNC Connectors

When a computer transmits data in this topology, all computers see that data over the
wire, but only that computer accepts the data to which it is addressed. It is just like an
announcement that is heard by all but answered only by the person to whom the
announcement is made.

For example, if in the above network, PC-A sends data to the PC-C then all computers
of the network receive this data but only the PC-C accepts it. The following image shows this
process.

Advantages of a Bus Topology

• It is very simple to install.
• It uses less cable than other topologies.
• It is relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages of a Bus Topology
• It is very difficult to troubleshoot.
• It provides a slow data transfer speed.
• A single fault can bring the entire network down.

4. Ring Topology

A ring topology is a network configuration where device connections create a circular

data path. Each networked device is connected to two others, like points on a circle.
Together, devices in a ring topology are referred to as a ring network.

In a ring network, packets of data travel from one device to the next until they reach
their destination. Most ring topologies allow packets to travel only in one direction, called
a unidirectional ring network. Others permit data to move in either direction, called
bidirectional.

Like the bus topology, this topology is also no longer used in modern networks. This
topology was originally developed by IBM to overcome the existing drawbacks of the bus
topology.

Unidirectional Ring Topology

In the unidirectional topology, data flows in one direction

(either clockwise or anti-clockwise) through one single
cable.

Bidirectional Ring Topology

In the Bidirectional topology, two cables carry data. Data

flow in two opposite directions (one clockwise& the other
one anti-clockwise) through two cables.
Advantages of a Ring Topology
• It does not use terminators.
• It is relatively easy to troubleshoot.
• Since data flows only in one direction, there is no collision in the network.

Disadvantages of a Ring Topology

• It uses more cables.
• It is too expensive.
• A single break in the cable can bring the entire network down.

5. Star topology

In this topology, all computers connect to a centralized networking device. Usually, a

networking switch or a Hub (in earlier days) is used as the centralized device. Each
computer in the network uses its own separate twisted pair cable to connect to the switch.
The twisted-pair cable uses RJ-45 connectors on both ends.

Example of a Star topology

All computers are connected to a

centralized device, in this example a
hub.

Example of a Star topology

All computers are connected to a

centralized device, in this example a
switch. RJ45 connectors and twisted
pair cables are also labeled.
Advantages of star topology
• Centralized management of the network, using the central computer, hub, or
switch.
• Easy to add another computer to the network.
• If one computer on the network fails, the rest of the network continues to
function normally.

Disadvantages of star topology

• May have a higher cost to implement, especially when using a switch or router as
the central network device.
• The central network device determines the performance and number of nodes
the network can handle.
• If the central computer, hub, or switch fails, the entire network goes down and all
computers are disconnected from the network.

6. Tree topology

The tree topology structure gets its name from how the central node functions as
a sort of trunk for the network, with nodes extending outward in a branch-like fashion.
However, where each node in a star topology is directly connected to the central hub, a
tree topology has a parent-child hierarchy to how the nodes are connected. Those
connected to the central hub are connected linearly to other nodes, so two connected
nodes only share one mutual connection. Because the tree topology structure is both
extremely flexible and scalable, it’s often used for wide area networks to support many
spread-out devices.

Example of a Tree topology

The two secondary hubs are connected

by a central hub that acts as a bridge
for the computers of each secondary
hub to contact each other.
Advantages of a Tree topology
• Combining elements of the star and bus topologies allows for the easy addition of
nodes and network expansion.
• Troubleshooting errors on the network is also a straightforward process, as each of
the branches can be individually assessed for performance issues.

Disadvantages of a Tree topology

• Should the central hub fail, the various node branches will become disconnected,
though connectivity within—but not between—branch systems will remain.
• Tree topologies are expensive because of the sheer amount of cabling required to
connect each device to the next within the hierarchical layout.

7. Mesh topology

A mesh topology is a network setup where each computer and network device are
interconnected with one another. This topology setup allows for most transmissions to be
distributed even if one of the connections goes down. It is a topology commonly used for
wireless networks.

There are two forms of this topology: full mesh and a partially connected mesh.

• In a full mesh topology, every computer in the network has a connection to each of
the other computers in that network. The number of connections in this network
can be calculated using the following formula (n is the number of computers in the
network): n(n-1)/2
 For example, to make a fully meshed network of 4 end devices, we need 4*(4-
1)/2 = 6 connections.

• In a partially connected mesh topology, at least two of the computers in the

network have connections to multiple other computers in that network. It is an
inexpensive way to implement redundancy in a network. If one of the primary
computers or connections in the network fails, the rest of the network continues to
operate normally.

Advantages of a mesh topology

• Manages high amounts of traffic, because multiple devices can transmit data
simultaneously.
• A failure of one device does not cause a break in the network or transmission of data.
• Adding additional devices does not disrupt data transmission between other devices.

Disadvantages of a mesh topology

• The cost to implement is higher than other network topologies, making it a less
desirable option.
• Building and maintaining the topology is difficult and time consuming.
• The chance of redundant connections is high, which adds to the high costs and
potential for reduced efficiency.

8. Hybrid topology

A hybrid topology is a type of network topology that uses two or more differing network
topologies. These topologies can include a mix of bus topology, mesh topology, ring
topology, star topology, and tree topology.

The choice to use a hybrid topology over a standard topology depends on the needs of
a business, school, or the users. The number of computers, their location, and desired
network performance are all factors in the decision.

Types of hybrid topologies

The two most commonly used types of hybrid topologies are the following.

• Star-Ring hybrid topology

A star-ring hybrid topology is a combination of the star topology and ring topology. Two or
more star topologies are connected together through a ring topology.
 • Star-Bus hybrid topology
A star-bus hybrid topology is a combination of the star topology and bus topology. Two or
more star topologies are connected together through a bus topology.

Advantages of Hybrid Topology

• The main advantage of hybrid structures is the degree of flexibility they provide, as
there are few limitations on the network structure itself that a hybrid setup can’t
accommodate.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology

• Each type of network topology comes with its own disadvantages, and as a network
grows in complexity, so too does the experience and know-how required on the part of
the admins to keep everything functioning optimally. There’s also the monetary cost to
consider when creating a hybrid network topology.
 Chapter 5 – Network Topology
Activity Sheet
Activity 1 – Identiifcation
Direction. Identify what is being described in each statement. Write your answers on your
answer sheets.
_______ 1. It refers to how various nodes, devices, and connections on your network are
physically or logically arranged in relation to each other.
_______ 2. This refers to the actual connections (wires, cables, etc.) of how the network is
arranged
_______ 3. It shows how data is transmitted through the network.
_______ 4. This is the simplest form of network topology.
_______ 5. What is the connector used in Bus topology?
_______ 6. In this topology, two cables carry data and the data flow in two opposite directions
(one clockwise& the other one anti-clockwise) through two cables.
_______ 7. It is also called a Backbone topology.
_______ 8. This topology has each networked device connected to two other network devices.
_______ 9. This topology has all computers connect to a centralized networking device.
_______ 10. This topology setup allows for most transmissions to be distributed even if one of
the connections goes down.
_______ 11. In this topology, the chance of redundant connections is high.
_______ 12. What cable is used in a Star-bus topology?
_______ 13. This is commonly used for wireless networks.
_______ 14. How many connections are there in a Full mesh topology if you have 5 network
devices in your network?
_______ 15. What is usually used as a central device in a Star topology?

Activity 2 – Performance task

Direction. Using a cardboard or any material available at your homes, make a miniature model
of the following network topologies (choose 2):
a. Bus topology
b. Ring topology
c. Star topology
d. Tree topology
e. Mesh topology

Criteria Percentage
Relevance to the topic 30
Creativity/ Aesthetic 25
Cleanliness of output 15
Use of material 30
Total 100