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5 Network Topologies

This document discusses network topologies and provides details about the bus and star topologies. It describes the key characteristics of each, including how the connections are made, advantages and disadvantages. The bus topology is simple but can slow down with heavy traffic. The star topology is more flexible and reliable but if the central hub fails, the whole network fails. The document provides guidance on when each topology is best suited.

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Rashad Mahmood
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50 views20 pages

5 Network Topologies

This document discusses network topologies and provides details about the bus and star topologies. It describes the key characteristics of each, including how the connections are made, advantages and disadvantages. The bus topology is simple but can slow down with heavy traffic. The star topology is more flexible and reliable but if the central hub fails, the whole network fails. The document provides guidance on when each topology is best suited.

Uploaded by

Rashad Mahmood
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Instructor: RASHAD MAHMOOD

IT-Specialist
Microsoft Certified Network System Engineer
Microsoft Certified Network Administrator
Cisco Certified Network Administrator
NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
 The way in which the connections are made among all
the computers is called the topology of the network.

 Network topology specifically refers to the physical


layout of the network, specially the location of the
computers and how the cable is run between them.

 Each topology has its own strengths and weaknesses.

 The most common topologies are the bus, the star, the
ring and the mesh.
 The bus topology is the simplest and most common method for
connecting computers.
 It is often used when a network installation is small, simple, or
temporary.
 It is important to note that the bus topology is a Passive topology.
 This means that computers on the bus only listen for data being
sent, they are not responsible for moving the data from one
computer to the next.
 If one computer fails it has no effect on the rest of the network.
 In an active topology network, the computers regenerate signals
and are responsible for moving the data through the network.
 On a typical bus network, the entire computers are
connected to a single cable.

 When one computer sends a signals using the cable, all


the computers on the network receive the information,
but only one (the one with the address that matches the
one encoded in the message) accepts the information.

 The rest disregard the message.


 Only one computer at a time can send a message;
therefore, the number of computers attached to a bus
network can significantly affect the speed of the
network.

 A computer must wait until the bus is free before it can


transmit.
 Another important issue in bus network is termination.
Without termination, when the signal reaches the end
of the wire, it bounces back and travel back up the
wire.

 When a signal echoes back and forth along the


unterminated bus, it is called ringing.
 To stop the signals from ringing, terminators are
attached at either end of the cable.

 The terminator absorbs the signals and stops the


ringing.
 1. The bus is simple, reliable in very small network,
and easy to use.

 2. The bus requires the least amount of cable to


connect the computers together and is therefore less
expensive than other cabling arrangements.

 3. It is easy to extend a bus. Two cables can be joined


into one longer cable with a BNC barrel connector,
making a longer cable and allowing more computers to
join the network.
 1. Heavy network traffic can slow a bus considerably.

 2. A break in the cable or lake of proper termination


can bring the network down.

 3. It is difficult to troubleshoot a bus.


 The network is small.

 The network will not be frequently reconfigured.

 The least expensive solution is required.

 The network is not expected to grow much.


 In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point to
point link only to central controller, usually called a
hub.
 Each computer on a star network communicates with a
central hub that resends the message either to all the
computers (in a broadcast star network) or only to the
destination computer (in a switched star network).

 The hub can be active or passive.


 An active hub regenerates the electrical signal and
sends it to all the computers connected to it.

 This type of hub is often called a multiport repeater.

 Active hub requires electrical power to run.


 A passive hub, such as wiring panels, merely acts as a
connection point and does not amplify or regenerate
the signal.

 Passive hubs do not require electrical power to run.


 Using a hybrid hub, several types of cable can be used to
implement a star network.

 Hybrid hub is used to connect different types of cables.

 It is used to maximize the network’s efficiency and utilize the


benefits different cables.
 1. It is easy to modify and add new computers to a star
network without disturbing the rest of the network.

 2. The center of a star network is a good place to diagnose


network faults.
 Intelligent hubs (hubs with microprocessors that implement
features in addition to repeating network signals) also
provide for centralized monitoring and management of the
network.

 3. Single computer failure does not necessarily bring down


the whole star network.

 4. Several types of cable can be used in the same network


with a hybrid hub.
 1. If the central hub fails, the whole network fails to
operate.

 2. It cost more to cable a star network.


 1. It must be easy to add or remove client computer.

 2. It must be easy to troubleshoot.

 3. The network is large.

 4. The network is expected to grow in the future.

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