PRIYADARSHINI POLYTECHNIC

DEPT OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

BR/SEM: CM4I
SUBJECT:DATA COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER NETWORK
UNIT :4 NETWORK TOPOLOGIES AND NETWORK DEVICES

A Network Topology is the arrangement with which computer

systems or network devices are connected to each other.

Topologies may define both physical and logical aspect of the

network. Both logical and physical topologies could be same or
different in a same network.

There are two types of topology: physical and logical topology.

Physical topology is the geometric representation of all the nodes in a

network.

Point-to-Point
Point-to-point networks contains exactly two hosts such as computer, switches or
routers, servers connected back to back using a single piece of cable. Often, the
receiving end of one host is connected to sending end of the other and vice-versa.
If the hosts are connected point-to-point logically, then may have multiple
intermediate devices. But the end hosts are unaware of underlying network and see
each other as if they are connected directly.

Bus Topology
In case of Bus topology, all devices share single communication line or cable.Bus
topology may have problem while multiple hosts sending data at the same time.
Therefore, Bus topology either uses CSMA/CD technology or recognizes one host as
Bus Master to solve the issue. It is one of the simple forms of networking where a
failure of a device does not affect the other devices. But failure of the shared
communication line can make all other devices stop functioning.

Both ends of the shared channel have line terminator. The data is sent in only one
direction and as soon as it reaches the extreme end, the terminator removes the
data from the line.

Advantages of Bus Topology

These are the advantages of using bus topology −
● Easy to install and maintain
● Can be extended easily
● Very reliable because of single transmission line

Disadvantages of Bus Topology

These are some disadvantages of using bus topology −
● Troubleshooting is difficult as there is no single point of control
● One faulty node can bring the whole network down
● Dumb terminals cannot be connected to the bus

Star Topology
All hosts in Star topology are connected to a central device, known as hub device,
using a point-to-point connection. That is, there exists a point to point connection
between hosts and hub. The hub device can be any of the following:

● Layer-1 device such as hub or repeater

● Layer-2 device such as switch or bridge
● Layer-3 device such as router or gateway

As in Bus topology, hub acts as single point of failure. If hub fails, connectivity of all
hosts to all other hosts fails. Every communication between hosts, takes place
through only the hub.Star topology is not expensive as to connect one more host,
only one cable is required and configuration is simple.

Advantages of Star Topology

These are the advantages of using star topology −
 ● Failure of one node does not affect the network
● Troubleshooting is easy as faulty node can be detected from central
node immediately
● Simple access protocols required as one of the communicating nodes is
always the central node

Disadvantages of Star Topology

These are the disadvantages of using star topology −
● Long cables may be required to connect each node to the server
● Failure of central node brings down the whole network

Ring Topology
In ring topology, each host machine connects to exactly two other machines,
creating a circular network structure. When one host tries to communicate or send
message to a host which is not adjacent to it, the data travels through all
intermediate hosts. To connect one more host in the existing structure, the
administrator may need only one more extra cable.

Failure of any host results in failure of the whole ring.Thus, every connection in the
ring is a point of failure. There are methods which employ one more backup ring.

Advantages of Ring Topology

These are the advantages of using ring topology −
● Small cable segments are needed to connect two nodes
● Ideal for optical fibres as data travels in only one direction
● Very high transmission speeds possible
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
These are some the disadvantages of using ring topology −
● Failure of single node brings down the whole network
● Troubleshooting is difficult as many nodes may have to be inspected
before faulty one is identified
● Difficult to remove one or more nodes while keeping the rest of the
network intact

Mesh Topology
In this type of topology, a host is connected to one or multiple hosts.This topology
has hosts in point-to-point connection with every other host or may also have hosts
which are in point-to-point connection to few hosts only.

Hosts in Mesh topology also work as relay for other hosts which do not have direct
point-to-point links. Mesh technology comes into two types:

● Full Mesh: All hosts have a point-to-point connection to every other host in
the network. Thus for every new host n(n-1)/2 connections are required. It
provides the most reliable network structure among all network topologies.
● Partially Mesh: Not all hosts have point-to-point connection to every other
host. Hosts connect to each other in some arbitrarily fashion. This topology
exists where we need to provide reliability to some hosts out of all.

Advantages of Mesh topology:

Reliable: The mesh topology networks are very reliable as if any link breakdown will
not affect the communication between connected computers.
Fast Communication: Communication is very fast between the nodes.

Easier Reconfiguration: Adding new devices would not disrupt the communication
between other devices.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

● Cost: A mesh topology contains a large number of connected devices such as a

router and more transmission media than other topologies.

● Management: Mesh topology networks are very large and very difficult to

maintain and manage. If the network is not monitored carefully, then the

communication link failure goes undetected.

● Efficiency: In this topology, redundant connections are high that reduces the

efficiency of the network.

Tree Topology
Also known as Hierarchical Topology, this is the most common form of network
topology in use presently.This topology imitates as extended Star topology and
inherits properties of bus topology.

This topology divides the network in to multiple levels/layers of network. Mainly in

LANs, a network is bifurcated into three types of network devices. The lowermost is
access-layer where computers are attached. The middle layer is known as
distribution layer, which works as mediator between upper layer and lower layer.
The highest layer is known as core layer, and is central point of the network, i.e.
root of the tree from which all nodes fork.
All neighboring hosts have point-to-point connection between them.Similar to the
Bus topology, if the root goes down, then the entire network suffers even.though it
is not the single point of failure. Every connection serves as point of failure, failing
of which divides the network into unreachable segment.

Advantages of Tree Topology

These are some of the advantages of using tree topology −
● Existing network can be easily expanded
● Point-to-point wiring for individual segments means easier installation
and maintenance
● Well suited for temporary networks

Disadvantages of Tree Topology

These are some of the disadvantages of using tree topology −
● Technical expertise required to configure and wire tree topology
● Failure of backbone cable brings down entire network
● Insecure network
● Maintenance difficult for large networks

Hybrid Topology
A network structure whose design contains more than one topology is said to be
hybrid topology. Hybrid topology inherits merits and demerits of all the
incorporating topologies.

The above picture represents an arbitrarily hybrid topology. The combining

topologies may contain attributes of Star, Ring, Bus, and Daisy-chain topologies.
Most WANs are connected by means of Dual-Ring topology and networks connected
to them are mostly Star topology networks. Internet is the best example of largest
Hybrid topology

Advantages of Hybrid Topology

● Reliable: If a fault occurs in any part of the network will not affect the

functioning of the rest of the network.

● Scalable: Size of the network can be easily expanded by adding new devices

without affecting the functionality of the existing network.

● Flexible: This topology is very flexible as it can be designed according to the

requirements of the organization.

● Effective: Hybrid topology is very effective as it can be designed in such a way

that the strength of the network is maximized and weakness of the network is

minimized.

Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

 ● Complex design: The major drawback of the Hybrid topology is the design of

the Hybrid network. It is very difficult to design the architecture of the Hybrid

network.

● Costly Hub: The Hubs used in the Hybrid topology are very expensive as these

hubs are different from usual Hubs used in other topologies.

● Costly infrastructure: The infrastructure cost is very high as a hybrid network

requires a lot of cabling, network devices, etc.

Network connecting devices

Hardware devices that are used to connect computers, printers, fax

machines and other electronic devices to a network are called network
devices. These devices transfer data in a fast, secure and correct way over
same or different networks. Network devices may be inter-network or
intra-network. Some devices are installed on the device, like NIC card or
RJ45 connector, whereas some are part of the network, like router, switch,
etc. Let us explore some of these devices in greater detail.

Hub
A Hub is a hardware device that divides the network connection among multiple
devices. When computer requests for some information from a network, it first sends
the request to the Hub through cable. Hub will broadcast this request to the entire
network. All the devices will check whether the request belongs to them or not. If not,
the request will be dropped.

The process used by the Hub consumes more bandwidth and limits the amount of
communication. Nowadays, the use of hub is obsolete, and it is replaced by more
advanced computer network components such as Switches, Routers.
 Switch
A switch is a hardware device that connects multiple devices on a computer
network. A Switch contains more advanced features than Hub. The Switch
contains the updated table that decides where the data is transmitted or not.
Switch delivers the message to the correct destination based on the physical
address present in the incoming message. A Switch does not broadcast the
message to the entire network like the Hub. It determines the device to whom
the message is to be transmitted. Therefore, we can say that switch provides a
direct connection between the source and destination. It increases the speed of
the network
Compare hub and switch

Hub Switch

A hub operates on the physical layer. A switch operates on the data link
layer.

Hubs perform frame flooding that It performs broadcast, then the

can be unicast, multicast, or unicast and multicast as needed.
broadcast.

Just a singular domain of collision is Varied ports have separate collision

present in a hub. domains.

Transmission mode is Half-duplex Transmission mode is Full duplex

Hubs operates as a Layer 1 devices Network switches help you to

per the OSI model. operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model.

To connect a network of personal Allow connecting multiple devices

computers should be joined through and ports.
a central hub.

Uses electrical signal orbits Uses frame & packet

Does not offer Spanning-Tree Multiple Spanning-Tree is possible

Collisions occur mostly in setups No collisions occur in a full-duplex

using hubs. switch.

Hub is a passive device A switch is an active device

A network hub can't store MAC Switches use CAM (Content

addresses. Accessible Memory) that can be
accessed by ASIC (Application
Specific Integrated Chips).

Not an intelligent device Intelligent device

Its speed is up to 10 Mbps 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps

Does not use software Has software for administration

Router
● A router is a hardware device which is used to connect a LAN with an internet

connection. It is used to receive, analyze and forward the incoming packets to

another network.

● A router works in a Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI Reference model.

 ● A router forwards the packet based on the information available in the routing

table.

● It determines the best path from the available paths for the transmission of the

packet.

Advantages Of Router:

● Security: The information which is transmitted to the network will traverse the

entire cable, but the only specified device which has been addressed can read

the data.

● Reliability: If the server has stopped functioning, the network goes down, but

no other networks are affected that are served by the router.

● Performance: Router enhances the overall performance of the network.

Suppose there are 24 workstations in a network generates a same amount of

traffic. This increases the traffic load on the network. Router splits the single

network into two networks of 12 workstations each, reduces the traffic load by

half.

● Network range

Routing Table

A router reads its routing table to decide the best available route the packet

can take to reach its destination quickly and accurately. The routing table

may be of these two types −

● Static − In a static routing table the routes are fed manually. So it is

suitable only for very small networks that have maximum two to three

routers.
 ● Dynamic − In a dynamic routing table, the router communicates with

other routers through protocols to determine which routes are free.

This is suited for larger networks where manual feeding may not be

feasible due to large number of routers.

Modem
● A modem is a hardware device that allows the computer to connect to the

internet over the existing telephone line.

● A modem is not integrated with the motherboard rather than it is installed on the

PCI slot found on the motherboard.

● It stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It converts the digital data into an analog

signal over the telephone lines.

The main function of the modem is to convert digital signal into analog and
vice versa. Modem is a combination of two devices − modulator and
demodulator. The modulator converts digital data into analog data when the
data is being sent by the computer. The demodulator converts analog data
signals into digital data when it is being received by the computer.

Types of Modem
Modem can be categorized in several ways like direction in which it can
transmit data, type of connection to the transmission line, transmission
mode, etc.
Depending on direction of data transmission, modem can be of these types
−
● Simplex − A simplex modem can transfer data in only one direction,
from digital device to network (modulator) or network to digital device
(demodulator).
● Half duplex − A half-duplex modem has the capacity to transfer data in
both the directions but only one at a time.
● Full duplex − A full duplex modem can transmit data in both the
directions simultaneously.

RJ45 Connector
RJ45 is the acronym for Registered Jack 45. RJ45 connector is an 8-pin jack
used by devices to physically connect to Ethernet based local area networks
(LANs). Ethernet is a technology that defines protocols for establishing a
LAN. The cable used for Ethernet LANs are twisted pair ones and have RJ45
connector pins at both ends. These pins go into the corresponding socket on
devices and connect the device to the network.

Ethernet Card
Ethernet card, also known as network interface card (NIC), is a hardware
component used by computers to connect to Ethernet LAN and
communicate with other devices on the LAN. The earliest Ethernet cards
were external to the system and needed to be installed manually. In
modern computer systems, it is an internal hardware component. The NIC
has RJ45 socket where network cable is physically plugged in.

Ethernet card speeds may vary depending upon the protocols it supports.
Old Ethernet cards had maximum speed of 10 Mbps. However, modern
cards support fast Ethernets up to a speed of 100 Mbps. Some cards even
have capacity of 1 Gbps.

Gateway
Gateway is a network device used to connect two or more dissimilar
networks. In networking parlance, networks that use different protocols are
dissimilar networks. A gateway usually is a computer with multiple NICs
connected to different networks. A gateway can also be configured
completely using software. As networks connect to a different network
through gateways, these gateways are usually hosts or end points of the
network.
Gateway uses packet switching technique to transmit data from one
network to another. In this way it is similar to a router, the only difference
being router can transmit data only over networks that use same protocols.