CIR 209: LAN NETWORK TOPOLOGIES

Session Coverage

7.1 Categories of Network Topologies .............................................................................................................................. 1

Logical Topology: ......................................................................................................................................................... 1

Physical topology: ......................................................................................................................................................... 1

7.2 Selecting a Physical topology and Implications ........................................................................................................... 2

7.3 Categories of physical topologies: ............................................................................................................................... 2

7.4 Categories of Multipoint Physical Topologies: ............................................................................................................ 2

Advantages of Star Topology ................................................................................................................................. 3

7.1 Categories of Network Topologies

Logical Topology:
 It describes how the signal/data flows in the network.

 In a logical bus topology, the data is sent to a trunk/backbone from where all the computers on
the network can simultaneously pick a copy of information. It is only the target computer that
will fully process the data and respond.

 In a logical ring topology, the data travels around a circle in one direction from one
workstation/computer to another.

 In a logical mesh topology, the data can travel through a number of paths to the destination.
The choice of the path here will depend on a number of factors e.g. data traffic on the path.

 In a logical radial topology, data from a source to a destination device flows through an
intermediary device (Hub, Switch or MSAU)

Physical topology:
 This describes the physical layout of the cables (media), workstations, servers and the
intermediary network devices like switches or hubs.

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  It is important to carefully consider the selection of a physical topology for a network because
of the cost implications (amount and type of cable to be used) and the effects on network
performance (fault tolerance and redundancy).

7.2 Selecting a Physical topology and Implications

i. The cost of implementation
ii. Ability to implement redundancy or fault tolerance
iii. Ability to implement future physical expansion
iv. Ease of management

7.3 Categories of physical topologies:

i. Point to Point physical network topology
 In this topology, two device are connected directly using a crossover cable
 Needed when there is need to transfer data between two computers directly without the use of
removable storage device
ii. Multipoint Physical network topology
 Where there is need to interconnect more than two end devices, a multipoint physical network
topology will be used
 The multipoint physical network topologies include:
o Star topology, Bus topology, Mesh topology, Ring topology, Hierarchical topologies
and Hybrid Topologies

7.4 Categories of Multipoint Physical Topologies:

a) Star Topology (Physical topology)
 In this topology, each computer is connected to a central device by a separate cable or
wireless connection (usually a switch, hub or a wireless access point). Communication
between any two nodes/computers or devices in this network is always through the central
device.

 The advantage of this topology is that if one workstation goes down, the network continues to
function normally. But if the central interconnecting device goes down, the entire network
goes down.

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  In case a hub is used as the central device; data from any one transmitting station is
broadcasted to all the stations on the network.

 Easy to identify and isolate a problem but consumes a lot of cable especially, where nodes are
located far from central device.

 A switch is more intelligent, it utilizes a MAC address table and therefore able to direct the
data to the specific end device hence less collision is experienced. The characteristics of a
switch, hubs and other network devices will be covered later.

Advantages of Star Topology

i. As compared to Bus topology it gives far much better performance, signals don’t
necessarily get transmitted to all the workstations. Performance of the network is
dependent on the capacity of central hub.

ii. Easy to connect new nodes or devices. In star topology new nodes can be added easily
without affecting rest of the network. Similarly components can also be removed
easily.

iii. Centralized management. It helps in monitoring the network.

iv. Failure of one node or link doesn’t affect the rest of network. At the same time its easy
to detect the failure and troubleshoot it.

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 Disadvantages of Star Topology
i. Too much dependency on central device has its own drawbacks. If it fails whole
network goes down

ii. The use of hub, a router or a switch as central device increases the overall cost of the
network.

iii. Performance and as well number of nodes which can be added in such topology is
depended on capacity of central device.

b) Bus Topology (Physical topology)

 The main feature of a bus topology is the presence of a linear high speed cable called a
trunk/backbone on to which all the computers in a network are attached. Each transmits data
by sending the data to the trunk/backbone.

 The computers in the network examine all the data on the backbone and will only accept and
process data addressed to them. By examining the IP address and the MAC address on the
packet, they are able to determine the destination of the packet.

 The trunk/backbone is normally terminated at both ends just after the last node, to eliminate
signal echo or bouncing back. Where the trunk runs for a long distance, repeaters are normally
used at specific intervals to regenerate the signals.

 The coaxial cable and the optical fiber cables are the main type of media used for the
backbone, to implement this type of topology. Performance begins to degrade/fail as more
workstations are added to the network.

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  The main disadvantage with this topology is the complexity of cabling and the difficulty of
isolating connectivity problems when the backbone fails.
Advantages of bus topology

i. Easy to implement and extend

ii. Well suited for temporary networks that must be set up in a hurry
iii. Typically the least cheapest topology to implement
iv. Failure of one station does not affect others

Disadvantages of bus topology

i. Difficult to administer/troubleshoot
ii. Limited cable length and number of stations
iii. A cable break can disable the entire network; no redundancy
iv. Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
v. Performance degrades as additional computers are added

c) Ring Topology (Physical topology)

 This technology utilizes a Multi-station Access Unit (MSAU), as the central interconnecting
device.

 This arrangement implements a physical star topology and a logical ring topology. In other
cases, computers are connected on a single cable (normally co-axial) that forms a loop.

 The first computer to boot/start on the network generates a token, which is the main feature of
communication on the network.

 The token is then passed from one computer to the next and it is only the computer with the
token that can transmit.

 When a computer on the network receives the token, it strips the data from the token and
sends the token back to the sending computer with an acknowledgement.

 Each computer on the network acts as a repeater i.e. it examines the addressing details on the
received packet, in comparison to its own, if the addresses do not match, it re-generates the
signal, before forwarding it to the next computer.

 This topology eliminates collisions and it is therefore more efficient compared to other
topologies.

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 Advantages of Ring Topology

i. This type of network topology is very organized. Each node gets to send the data when
it receives an empty token. This helps to reduces chances of collision. Also in ring
topology all the traffic flows in only one direction at very high speed.

ii. Even when the load on the network increases, its performance is better than that
of Bus topology.

iii. There is no need for network server to control the connectivity between workstations.

iv. Additional components do not affect the performance of network.

v. Each computer has equal access to resources.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

i. Each packet of data must pass through all the computers between source and
destination. This makes it slower than Star topology.

ii. If one workstation or port goes down, the entire network gets affected.

iii. Network is highly dependent on the wire which connects different components.

d) Mesh Topology
 This topology is normally used where fault tolerance is highly desirable. It provides a number
of alternative paths from one device to another i.e. all the computers on the network are
interconnected such when one path to a certain destination fails; an alternative path to the
same destination is always available.

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 Advantages
i. Data can be transmitted from different devices simultaneously and therefore the topology
can withstand high traffic. It is efficient in a sense when one node fails, others continue to
work without disruption.
ii. The data has alternative routes when one route becomes un-available
iii. Expansion and modification in topology can be done without disrupting other nodes.

Disadvantages
i. There are high chances of loops in many of the network connections.
ii. Compared to other network topologies, the overall cost of this network is high.
iii. Administration of the network is challenging.
iv. Set-up and maintenance is difficult

e) Daisy chains
 The simplest of the complex topologies is developed by serially interconnecting all the hubs
of a network. This is called daisy-chaining. This simple approach uses ports on existing hubs
for interconnecting the hubs.

 Therefore, no incremental cost is incurred during the development of such a backbone.

 Small LANs can be scaled upward by daisy-chaining hubs together. Daisy chains are easily
built and don’t require any special administrative skills. Daisy chains were, historically, the
interconnection method of choice for emerging, first-generation LANs.

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  The limits of daisy-chaining can be discovered in a number of ways. LAN technology
specifications, such as 802.3 Ethernet, dictate the maximum size of the LAN in terms of the
number of hubs and/or repeaters that may be strung together in sequence.

 The distance limitations imposed by the Physical layer, multiplied by the number of devices,
dictate the maximum size of a LAN. This size is referred to as a maximum network diameter.
Scaling beyond this diameter adversely affects the normal functioning of that LAN.

 Daisy-chaining networks that use a contention-based media access method can become
problematic long before network diameter is compromised, however.

Disadvantage:

 Daisy-chaining increases the number of connections, and therefore the number of devices, on
a LAN. It does not increase aggregate bandwidth or segment collision domains. Daisy-
chaining simply increases the number of machines sharing the network’s available
bandwidth. Too many devices competing for the same amount of bandwidth can create

f) Hierarchical rings (Old and Used mainly in CAN and MAN Networks))
 Ring networks can be scaled up by interconnecting multiple rings in a hierarchical fashion.
User station and server connectivity can be provided by as many limited size rings as are
necessary to provide the required level of performance.

 A second-tier ring, either Token Ring or FDDI, can be used to interconnect all the user level
rings and to provide aggregated access to the Wide Area Network (WAN).

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 g) Star-Bus Topology
Overall network performance can be enhanced by not force-fitting all the functional requirements
of the LAN into a single solution. Today’s high-end switching hubs enable you to mix multiple
technologies. New topologies can be introduced by simply inserting the appropriate circuit board
into the multislot chassis of the switching hub.

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 h) Hierarchical Switched Network Topology
 Breaking the design of a network up into layers allows each layer to implement specific
functions, which simplifies the network design for easier deployment and management.

 A hierarchical LAN design includes three layers as shown in the figure:

 Access layer
 Distribution layer
 Core layer
 Some smaller enterprise networks implement a two-tier hierarchical design and collapse the
core and distribution layers into one layer.

 The network designer must develop a strategy to enable the network to be available and scale
easily and effectively.

 Use expandable, modular equipment or clustered devices that can be easily upgraded to
increase capabilities.

 Design a hierarchical network to include modules that can be added, upgraded, and modified
as needed.

 Choose routers or multilayer switches to limit broadcasts and filter undesirable traffic from
the network.

 Implement redundant links between critical devices and between access and core layers.

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