Networking

• Computer network A collection of

computing devices that are connected in
various ways in order to communicate and
share resources
Usually, the connections between
computers in a network are made using
physical wires or cables
However, some connections are wireless,
using radio waves or infrared signals
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 Networking

• The generic term node or host refers to

any device on a network
• Data transfer rate The speed with which
data is moved from one place on a
network to another
• Data transfer rate is a key issue in
computer networks

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 Networking

• Computer networks have opened up an

entire frontier in the world of computing
called the client/server model

Figure 15.1 Client/Server interaction 15-3

 Networking

• File server A computer that stores and

manages files for multiple users on a
network
• Web server A computer dedicated to
responding to requests (from the browser
client) for web pages

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 Network Media

• Media refers to the means used to link a

network's nodes together
• communications channel is the transmission
media on which data, instructions, or information
travel in a communications system.
• Choice impacts
– Speed
– Security
– Size
 Communication Channel

• The amount of data that can travel

over a communications channel
sometimes is called the bandwidth
• Latency is the time it takes a
signal to travel from one location
to another on a network
• Transmission media are materials
capable of carrying one or more
signals
• Broadband media transmit
multiple signals simultaneously
 Physical Transmission Media

• Twisted Pair is used for telephone systems and network

cabling
• Coaxial cable is often used for cable television wiring
• Fiber optic cable is capable of carrying significantly more
data at faster speeds than wire cables.
• Less susceptible of interference (noise) and therefore
more secure
• Smaller size (thinner and lighter)
 Physical Transmission Media
Twisted-pair cable Fiber-optic cable

Coaxial cable
 Twisted Pair Cable

• Most common LAN cable

• Called Cat5 or 100BaseT
• Four pairs of copper
cable twisted
• May be shielded from
interference
• Speeds range from
1 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps
 Coaxial Cable

• Similar to cable TV wire

• One wire runs through cable
• Shielded from interference
• Speeds up to 10 Mbps
 Fiber-optic Cable

• Data is transmitted with light

pulses
• Glass strand instead of
cable
• Immune to interference
• Very secure
• Hard to work with
• Speeds up to
100 Gbps
 Types of Networks

• Local-area network (LAN) A network

that connects a relatively small number of
machines in a relatively close
geographical area

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 Types of Networks

• Wide-area network (WAN) A network that

connects two or more local-area networks over a
potentially large geographic distance
Often one particular node on a LAN is set up to serve
as a gateway to handle all communication going
between that LAN and other networks

Communication between networks is called

internetworking
The Internet, as we know it today, is essentially the
ultimate wide-area network, spanning the entire globe

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 Types of Networks

• Metropolitan-area network (MAN) The

communication infrastructures that have
been developed in and around large cities

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 So, who owns the Internet?

Well, nobody does. No single person or

company owns the Internet or even
controls it entirely. As a wide-area
network, it is made up of many smaller
networks. These smaller networks are
often owned and managed by a person or
organization. The Internet, then, is really
defined by how connections can be made
between these networks.
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 Types of Networks

Figure 15.1 Local-area networks connected across a distance to

create a wide-area network 15-17
 Network Linking Devices

• Connect nodes in the network

• Cable runs from node to device
• Crossover cable connects two computers
 Network Interface Cards

• Network adapter
• Connects node to the media
• Unique Machine Access Code (MAC)
 Communication Devices
• A network card (NIC) enables a computer or device to
access a network
• Available in a variety of styles
• Wireless network cards often have an antenna
 Communication Devices

• A hub or switch connects several devices

in a network together
• Device that provides central point for
cables in network
 Hubs

• Center of a star network

• All nodes receive transmitted packets
• Slow and insecure
 Switches

• Replacement for hubs

• Only intended node receives transmission
• Fast and secure
 Router

• Connects two or more LANs together

• Packets sent to remote LAN cross
• Network is segmented by IP address
• Connect internal networks to the Internet
• Need configured before installation
 Router

• A router connects multiple

computers or other routers
together and transmits data
to its correct destination on a
network
• Routers forward data on
Internet using fastest
available path
• Many are protected by a
hardware firewall
 Bridge

• Connects two or more LANs together

• Packets sent to remote LAN cross
– Other packets do not cross

• Segments the network on MAC addresses

 Gateway

• Connects two dissimilar networks.

• (Local to outside network)
• Connects coax to twisted pair
• Most gateways contained in other devices.
 Network Topologies

• Various configurations, called topologies, have

been used to administer LANs
• Network Topology
Network topology is the arrangement of the
various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a
computer network. Essentially, it is the
topological structure of a network, and may
be depicted physically or logically.

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Types Of Network Topology

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 Types of Topologies

Physical topology refers to the placement

of the network's various components,
including device location and cable
installation.
Logical topology shows how data flows
within a network, regardless of its physical
design

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 Types of Network Topology

Network Topology is the schematic

description of a network arrangement,
connecting various nodes(sender and
receiver) through lines of connection.

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BUS Topology

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 BUS Topology

Bus topology is a network type in which

every computer and network device is
connected to single cable.
When it has exactly two endpoints, then it
is called Linear Bus topology.

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 Features of Bus Topology

It transmits data only in one direction.

Every device is connected to a single
cable

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 Advantages of Bus Topology

It is cost effective.

Cable required is least compared to other
network topology.
Used in small networks.
It is easy to understand.
Easy to expand joining two cables
together. 
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 Disadvantages of Bus Topology

Cables fails then whole network fails.

If network traffic is heavy or nodes are
more the performance of the network
decreases.
Cable has a limited length.
It is slower than the ring topology.

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RING Topology

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 RING Topology

It is called ring topology because it forms a

ring as each computer is connected to
another computer, with the last one
connected to the first.
Exactly two neighbors for each device.

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 Features of Ring Topology

 A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with large number
of nodes, because if someone wants to send some data to the last
node in the ring topology with 100 nodes, then the data will have to
pass through 99 nodes to reach the 100th node.
 Hence to prevent data loss repeaters are used in the network.
 The transmission is unidirectional, but it can be made bidirectional
by having 2 connections between each Network Node, it is called
Dual Ring Topology.
 In Dual Ring Topology, two ring networks are formed, and data flow
is in opposite direction in them. Also, if one ring fails, the second
ring can act as a backup, to keep the network up.
 Data is transferred in a sequential manner that is bit by bit. Data
transmitted, has to pass through each node of the network, till the
destination node. 15-39
 Advantages of Ring Topology

Transmitting network is not affected by

high traffic or by adding more nodes, as
only the nodes having tokens can transmit
data.
Cheap to install and expand

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 Disadvantages of Ring Topology

Troubleshooting is difficult in ring topology.

Adding or deleting the computers disturbs
the network activity.
Failure of one computer disturbs the whole
network

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STAR Topology

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 STAR Topology

In this type of topology all the computers

are connected to a single hub through a
cable.
This hub is the central node and all others
nodes are connected to the central node.

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 Features of Star Topology

Every node has its own dedicated

connection to the hub.
Hub acts as a repeater for data flow.
Can be used with twisted pair, Optical
Fiber or coaxial cable.

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 Advantages of Star Topology

Fast performance with few nodes and low

network traffic.
Hub can be upgraded easily.
Easy to troubleshoot.
Easy to setup and modify.
Only that node is affected which has failed,
rest of the nodes can work smoothly.
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 Disadvantages of Star Topology

Cost of installation is high.

Expensive to use.
If the hub fails then the whole network is
stopped because all the nodes depend on
the hub.
Performance is based on the hub that is it
depends on its capacity
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 MESH Topology

 Routing
 In routing, the nodes have a routing logic, as per the network requirements. Like
routing logic to direct the data to reach the destination using the shortest
distance. Or, routing logic which has information about the broken links, and it
avoids those node etc. We can even have routing logic, to re-configure the failed
nodes.

 Flooding
 In flooding, the same data is transmitted to all the network nodes, hence no
routing logic is required. The network is robust, and the its very unlikely to lose
the data. But it leads to unwanted load over the network.

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MESH Topology

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 Types of Mesh Topology

Partial Mesh Topology:

In this topology some of the systems are
connected in the same fashion as mesh
topology but some devices are only
connected to two or three devices.
Full Mesh Topology:
Each and every nodes or devices are
connected to each other.

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Types of MESH Topology

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 Features of Mesh Topology

Fully connected.
Robust.
Not flexible.

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 Advantages of Mesh Topology

Each connection can carry its own data

load.
It is robust.
Fault is diagnosed easily.
Provides security and privacy.

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 Disadvantages of Mesh
Topology
Installation and configuration is difficult.
Cabling cost is more.
Bulk wiring is required.

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TREE Topology

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 TREE Topology

It has a root node and all other nodes are

connected to it forming a hierarchy.
It is also called hierarchical topology. It
should at least have three levels to the
hierarchy.

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 Features of Tree Topology

Ideal if workstations are located in groups.

Used in Wide Area Network.

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 Advantages of Tree Topology

Extension of bus and star topologies.

Expansion of nodes is possible and easy.
Easily managed and maintained.
Error detection is easily done.

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 Disadvantages of Tree
Topology 
Heavily cabled.
Costly.
If more nodes are added maintenance is
difficult.
Central hub fails, network fails.

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 HYBRID Topology

It is two different types of topologies which

is a mixture of two or more topologies.
For example if in an office in one department
ring topology is used and in another star
topology is used, connecting these topologies
will result in Hybrid Topology (ring topology
and star topology).

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HYBRID Topology

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 Features of Hybrid Topology

It is a combination of two or topologies

Inherits the advantages and
disadvantages of the topologies included.

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 Advantages of Hybrid Topology

Reliable as Error detecting and trouble

shooting is easy.
Effective.
Scalable as size can be increased easily.
Flexible. 

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 Disadvantages of Hybrid
Topology
Complex in design.
Costly.

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