NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
Topologies
The physical topology of a network refers
to the configuration of cables,
computers, and other peripherals
Star
Ring
Bus
Hybrid
Tree
Complete
Irregular
BUS Topology
• Each machine is connected to a
single cable.
• Each computer or server is
connected to the single bus cable
through some kind of connector.
• A signal from the source travels in
both directions to all machines
connected on the bus cable until it
finds the address on the network
that is the intended recipient.
• If the machine address does not
match the intended address for the
data, the machine ignores the data.
• Alternatively, if the data does match
the machine address, the data is
accepted
Advantages Disadvantages
Cheap and easy to implement Network disruption when
computers are
added or removed
High cost of managing the network
Require less cable Single point of failure.
A break in the cable will prevent all
systems from accessing the
network.
Does not use any specialized Difficult to troubleshoot.
network equipment.
Star Topology
• Each machine is connected to a
central hub or switch.
• It allows each machine on the
network to have a point to point
connection to the central hub.
• All of the traffic which transverses the
network passes through the central
hub.
• The hub acts as a signal booster or
repeater which in turn allows the
signal to travel greater distances.
• Most widely implemented
• Hub is the single point of failure
Advantages Disadvantages
Easily expanded without disruption Requires more cable
to the network
Cable failure affects only a single A central connecting device allows
user for a single point of failure
Easy to troubleshoot and isolate More expensive than bus
problems. topologies because of the cost of
the hubs
Ring Topology
• Each computer is connected to the
network in a closed loop or ring
• Each machine or computer has a unique
address that is used for identification
purposes
• The signal passes through each machine
or computer connected to the ring in one
direction
• Ring topologies typically utilize a token
passing scheme, used to control access to
the network
• By utilizing this scheme, only one machine
can transmit on the network at a time.
Advantages Disadvantages
Cable faults are easily located, Expansion to the network can
making cause
troubleshooting easier network disruption
Ring networks are moderately easy A single break in the cable can
to disrupt the
install entire network.
Tree
Tree: A collection of busses connected by
a branching cable with no closed loops
◦ Allows users to create networks using bridges
◦ Message from any site can be received by all
other sites, until it reaches an end point
◦ End point controller absorbs a message if it
reaches end point controller without being
accepted by a host
◦ Advantage: Message traffic can still flow
through the network even if a single node fails
Tree ( continued)
Figure : Tree Topology
Hybrid
Selects among the strong points of each topology and combines them to
meet that system’s communications requirements most effectively
Figure : Hybrid topology combining a star and a ring using a
bridge
Hybrid (continued)
Figure : Hybrid topology combining a star and a bus
Fully connected or
Complete(Mesh)
In A mesh network each station
is connected directly to every
other station in the network.
It is a viable solution only for
smaller networks.
The huge cabling cost and
awkwardness of laying so many
direct links make the mesh
topology unattractive for LAN’s
with a large number of stations.
On the other hand since all
stations are directly linked to all
other stations on exclusive links,
this topology allows
simultaneous communications
between a number of pairs of
stations.
Irregular network
An irregular network is
similar to the fully connected
except that the requirement
of connecting every
computer to every other is
removed.
The cost and the flexibility to
add a new computer is
reasonable.
The effect of failure depends
on the exact network
topology.
Application
News Groups
Internet Telephony (VoIP)
Video Conferencing
Chat Groups
Instant Messengers
Scope of Research
Improved Network Connection using
betterTopologies.
Assignment
1.Why star topology is most commonly
used topology?
2.List real life application of Hybrid
networks.
