Network Lab Manual

Experiment 1:
Recognize the physical topology and Cabling (coaxial, OFC, UTP, STP) of a network.

What is Topology?
Network topologies describe the methods in which all the elements of a network are mapped.
The topology term refers to both the physical and logical layout of a network.
Types of Networking Topologies:
Two main types of networking topologies are
1) Physical topology :
This type of network is an actual layout of the computer cables and other network devices

2) Logical topology:
Logical topology gives insight's about network's physical design.

Different types of Physical Topologies are:

 P2P Topology
 Bus Topology
 Ring Topology
 Star Topology
 Tree Topology
 Mesh Topology
 Hybrid Topology

 Point to Point
Point-to-point topology is the easiest of all the network topologies. In this method, the network
consists of a direct link between two computers.

Advantages:
 This is faster and highly reliable than other types of connections since there is a direct
connection.
 No need for a network operating system.

Disadvantages:
 The biggest drawback is that it only be used for small areas where computers are in close
proximity.
 You can't back up files and folders centrally.

 Bus Topology
 Bus topology uses a single cable which connects all the included nodes. The main cable acts
as a spine for the entire network. One of the computers in the network acts as the computer server.
When it has two endpoints, it is known as a linear bus topology.

Advantages:
 Cost of the cable is very less as compared to other topology, so it is widely used to build small
networks.
 Famous for LAN network because they are inexpensive and easy to install.
Disadvantages:
 In case if the common cable fails, then the entire system will crash down.
 When network traffic is heavy, it develops collisions in the network.
 Cables are always of a limited length.

 Ring Topology
In a ring network, every device has exactly two neigh boring devices for communication
purpose. It is called a ring topology as its formation is like a ring. In this topology, every computer is
connected to another computer. Here, the last node is combined with a first one.
This topology uses token to pass the information from one computer to another. In this
topology, all the messages travel through a ring in the same direction.
 Advantages:
 Easy to install and reconfigure.
 Adding or deleting a device in-ring topology needs you to move only two connections.
 The troubleshooting process is difficult in a ring topology.

Disadvantages:
 Unidirectional traffic.
 Break in a single ring can risk the breaking of the entire network
 Modern days high-speed LANs made this topology less popular.

 Star Topology
In the star topology, all the computers connect with the help of a hub. This cable is called a
central node, and all other nodes are connected using this central node. It is most popular on LAN
networks as they are inexpensive and easy to install.

Advantages:
 Easy to troubleshoot, set up, and modify.
 Only those nodes are affected, that has failed. Other nodes still work.

Disadvantages:
 If the hub or concentrator fails, attached nodes are disabled.
 Cost of installation of star topology is costly.

 Mesh Topology

The mesh topology has a unique network design in which each computer on the network
connects to every other. It is develops a P2P (point-to-point) connection between all the devices of
the network. It offers a high level of redundancy, so even if one network cable fails, still data has an
alternative path to reach its destination.
Types of Mesh Topology:

1) Partial Mesh Topology: In this type of topology, most of the devices are connected almost
similarly as full topology. The only difference is that few devices are connected with just two
or three devices.
2) Full Mesh Topology: In this topology, every nodes or device are directly connected with
each other.

Advantages:
 The network can be expanded without disrupting current users.
 Need extra capable compared with other LAN topologies.
 Complicated implementation.

Disadvantages:
 Installation is complex because every node is connected to every node.
 Dedicated links help you to eliminate the traffic problem.
 A mesh topology is robust.

 Tree Topology
Tree topologies have a root node, and all other nodes are connected which form a hierarchy.
So it is also known as hierarchical topology. This topology integrates various star topologies together
in a single bus, so it is known as a Star Bus topology. Tree topology is a very common network which
is similar to a bus and star topology.

Advantages:
 Failure of one node never affects the rest of the network.
 Node expansion is fast and easy.
 Detection of error is an easy process

Disadvantages:
 It is heavily cabled topology
 If more nodes are added, then its maintenance is difficult

 Hybrid Topology

Hybrid topology combines two or more topologies. You can see in the above architecture in
such a manner that the resulting network does not exhibit one of the standard topologies.

For example, as you can see in the above image that in an office in one department, Star and
P2P topology is used. A hybrid topology is always produced when two different basic network
topologies are connected.
 Advantages:
 Offers the easiest method for error detecting and troubleshooting.
 Highly effective and flexible networking topology.
 It is scalable so you can increase your network size.

Disadvantages:
 The design of hybrid topology is complex.
 It is one of the costliest processes.

Coaxial Cable
 Coaxial cable is very commonly used transmission media, for example, TV wire is usually a
coaxial cable.
 The name of the cable is coaxial as it contains two conductors parallel to each other.
 It has a higher frequency as compared to Twisted pair cable.
 The inner conductor of the coaxial cable is made up of copper, and the outer conductor is made
up of copper mesh. The middle core is made up of non-conductive cover that separates the
inner conductor from the outer conductor.
 The middle core is responsible for the data transferring whereas the copper mesh prevents
from the EMI(Electromagnetic interference).

Diagram of Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is of two types:

1) Baseband transmission: It is defined as the process of transmitting a single signal at high

speed.

2) Broadband transmission: It is defined as the process of transmitting multiple signals

simultaneously.
Fibre Optic
 Fibre optic cable is a cable that uses electrical signals for communication.
 Fibre optic is a cable that holds the optical fibres coated in plastic that are used to send the
data by pulses of light.
 The plastic coating protects the optical fibres from heat, cold, electromagnetic interference from
other types of wiring.
 Fibre optics provide faster data transmission than copper wires.

Diagram of Fibre Optic

Basic elements of Fibre optic cable:

 Core: The optical fibre consists of a narrow strand of glass or plastic known as a core. A core
is a light transmission area of the fibre. The more the area of the core, the more light will be
transmitted into the fibre.

 Cladding: The concentric layer of glass is known as cladding. The main functionality of the
cladding is to provide the lower refractive index at the core interface as to cause the reflection
within the core so that the light waves are transmitted through the fibre.

 Jacket: The protective coating consisting of plastic is known as a jacket. The main purpose of
a jacket is to preserve the fibre strength, absorb shock and extra fibre protection.

Twisted Pair Cables

Twisted-pair cable is the most common type of cabling you can see in today's Local Area
Networks (LAN) networks. A pair of wires forms a circuit that can transmit data. The pairs are twisted
to provide protection against crosstalk. Crosstalk is the undesired signal noise generated by the
electromagnetic fields of the adjacent wires.

Two types of twisted pair cables are Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) and Shielded Twisted Pair
(STP).

1) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables:

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable is the most common networking media. Unshielded
Twisted Pair (UTP) consists of four pairs of thin, copper wires covered in color-coded plastic insulation
that are twisted together. The wire pairs are then covered with a plastic outer jacket. UTP cables are
of small diameter and it doesn’t need grounding. Since there is no shielding for UTP cabling, it relies
only on "cancellation" to avoid noise.
 2) Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables:
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables additionally have an overall conducting metallic shields
covering four twisted pair wires. There may be another conducting metallic shields covering individual
twisted pairs also. These metallic shields blocks out electromagnetic interference to prevent unwanted
noise from the communication circuit.