INTRODUCTION

TO
COMPUTER NETWORKS
Definition of Computer Network
A network is the interconnection of a set of devices capable of communication.
Here a device refers to a host such as a computer, cell phone or a connecting
device such as a router.

Physical structure:

Type of connection: A network is two or more devices connected through links. A

link is a communication pathway that transfers data from one device to another. A
link can be represented as a line drawn between to communicating devices. There
are two possible type of connection. Point to point and multipoint
Point to point connection:

It provides a dedicated link between two devices. That means there is a full length
of wire between two hosts. Microwave or satellite link is also possibe.

Multipoint Connection:

it is one in which more than two specific devices share a single link.
 TOPOLOGY
The term physical topology refers to the way in which a network is laid out
physically. The topology of a network is the geometric representation of the
relashionship of all links and linking devices (called nodes) to one another. There
are four basic topologies possible Mesh, star, bus and ring
Mesh topology
● Every device has a dedicated point to point link to every other device.
● The term dedicated means the link carries traffic only between the two
devices it connects.
● To find the number of physical links in a fully connected mesh network with n
nodes. We must consider that each node must be connected to (n-1) nodes.
So n nodes must be connected to n x (n-1) nodes
● Advantages:
● The use of dedicated links guarantees that each connection can carry its
own data load, thus eliminating traffic problem in the network which may
occur when links are shared btween multiple nodes.
● Mesh topology is robust. That means if one link becomes unusable, it will not
affect the entire network

Cont..
Mesh topology Continue
● Third there is the advantage of privacy and security. This is because every
message travels through a dedicated link. Physical boundaries prevents other
users form gaining acces to messages
● Point to point link makes fault identification and isolation made easy. Traffic
can be routed to avoid links with suspected problems
Mesh topology
Disadvantages: higher cost due to the requirement of large cable requirement.
Star Topology
● In star topology each node or device has a dedicated link only to a central
controller called hub.
● The nodes are not directly linked to one another
● There is no direct traffic between devices
● Her the controller acts as an exchange which pass the incoming messages to
the intended recipient.
● If one device want to send data to another it send the data to the controller.
Which relays the data to other connected device

Cont..
Advantages:

● Less expensive than a mesh topology.

● Each device needs only one link and one I/O port to connect to any number of
nodes
● Far less cabling is required than mesh topology
● Addition and deletion of nodes affect only one connection between that node
and the hub
● Other advantage involves robustness. If one link fails, only that link is affected
all other links remain active.

Disadvantage: One big disadvantage of a star topology is the dependency of the

whole topology on one Central controller called the hub. If the hub goes down
the the entire network fails
Star topology Disadvantages cont..
● It requires more cabling than other topologies like ring or bus
Bus topology
● In bus topology there is a long cable which acts as backbone cable to link all
the devices in a network
● Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines and taps
● A drop line is a connection cable running between the device and the main
cable
● A tap is a T connector that joins the backbone cable with drop cable
● There is a limit on the number of taps a bus can support and the distance
between those taps
Advantages:

● Easy to install
● A bus topology uses less cabling than star or mesh

Disadvantages:

● It includes difficult reconnection and fault isolation

● A bus is usually designed to be optimally efficient at installation. There for it is
difficult to add new devices
● Signal reflection at the taps causes degradation in quality
● This degradation in signal can be controlled by limiting the number and
spacing of devices connected to a given length of cable
● Fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission
● Traditional bus topology can use a bus topology but they are less popular no
Ring Topology
● In RIng Topology each device has a dedicated point to point connection with
only the two devices on either side of it
● A signal is passed along the ring in one direction from device to device until it
reaches the destination.
● Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater

Advantages:

● Easy to install and reconfigure. To add or remove a device requires changing

only two connections
Ring topology Disadvantages
● Unidirectional traffic can be a disadvantage
● In simple ring a break in the ring can disable the entire network
● This can be solved by using a dual ring or a switch capable of closing he
break
● Ring topology was implemented in IBM LAN called Token Ring