Lesson 4

NETWORK TOPOLOGY

A network topology is the physical and logical arrangement of nodes and connections in a network. Nodes usually include devices
such as switches, routers and software with switch and router features. Network topologies are often represented as a graph.

Network topologies describe the arrangement of networks and the relative location of traffic flows. Administrators can use network
topology diagrams to determine the best placements for each node and the optimal path for traffic flow. With a well-defined and
planned-out network topology, an organization can more easily locate faults and fix issues, improving its data transfer efficiency.

Two Categories of Network Topology

1. Physical – The physical network topology refers to the actual connections (wires, cables, etc.) of how the
network is arranged. Setup, maintenance, and provisioning tasks require insight into the physical
network.
2. Logical – The logical network topology refers to the abstract representation of how data flows and is
transmitted within the network.

Why is network topology important?

Network topology plays a major role in how a network functions. Namely, the topology has a direct effect on network functionality.
Choosing the right topology can help increase performance, as a properly chosen and maintained network topology increases energy
efficiency and data transfer rates.

A well-defined network topology makes it easier for network admins to locate faults, troubleshoot issues and to allocate network
resources. Diagrams are an important reference point in helping to diagnose network issues, as they can represent physical and logical
layouts.

Types of Network Topology

1. Point to Point Topology

Point-to-Point Topology is a type of topology that works on the functionality of
the sender and receiver. It is the simplest communication between two nodes, in
which one is the sender and the other one is the receiver. Point-to-Point provides
high bandwidth.

2. Bus Topology
Bus Topology is a network type in which every computer and network device is
connected to a single cable. It is bi-directional. It is a multi-point connection and a non-robust topology because if the backbone fails
the topology crashes. In Bus Topology, various MAC (Media Access Control) protocols are followed by LAN ethernet connections.

Figure 1: A bus topology with shared backbone cable. The nodes are connected to
the channel via drop lines.

Advantages of Bus Topology

If N devices are connected to each other in a bus topology, then the number of cables required to connect them is 1,
known as backbone cable, and N drop lines are required.
 Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based networks that support up to 10 Mbps.
 The cost of the cable is less compared to other topologies, but it is used to build small networks.
 Bus topology is familiar technology as installation and troubleshooting techniques are well known.
Drawbacks of Bus Topology
 A bus topology is quite simpler, but still, it requires a lot of cabling.
 If the common cable fails, then the whole system will crash down.
 If the network traffic is heavy, it increases collisions in the network. To avoid this, various protocols are used in the
MAC layer known as Pure Aloha, Slotted Aloha, CSMA/CD, etc.
 Adding new devices to the network would slow down networks.
 Security is very low.

A common example of bus topology is the Ethernet LAN, where all devices are connected to a single coaxial cable or twisted pair
cable. This topology is also used in cable television networks.

3. Star Topology
In the star network topology, a central device connects to all other nodes through a central hub. Switched local area networks based on
Ethernet switches and most wired home and office networks have a physical star topology.

Figure 2: A star topology having four systems connected to a single point of connection
i.e. hub.

Advantages of Star Topology

 If N devices are connected to each other in a star topology, then the number of cables required to connect them is N.
So, it is easy to set up.
 Each device requires only 1 port i.e. to connect to the hub, therefore the total number of ports required is N.
 It is Robust. If one link fails only that link will affect and not other than that.
 Easy to fault identification and fault isolation.
 Star topology is cost-effective as it uses inexpensive coaxial cable.
Drawbacks of Star Topology
 If the concentrator (hub) on which the whole topology relies fails, the whole system will crash down.
 The cost of installation is high.
 Performance is based on the single concentrator i.e. hub.

A common example of star topology is a local area network (LAN) in an office where all computers are connected to a central hub.
This topology is also used in wireless networks where all devices are connected to a wireless access point.

4. Ring Topology
In a Ring Topology, it forms a ring connecting devices with exactly two neighboring devices. A number of repeaters are used for Ring
topology with a large number of nodes, because if someone wants to send some data to the last node in the ring topology with 100
nodes, then the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to reach the 100th node. Hence to prevent data loss repeaters are used in the
network.

The data flows in one direction, i.e. it is unidirectional, but it can be made bidirectional by having 2 connections between each
Network Node, it is called Dual Ring Topology.

Figure 3: A ring topology comprises 4 stations connected with each forming a ring.

Advantages of Ring Topology

 The data transmission is high-speed.
 The possibility of collision is minimum in this type of topology.
 Cheap to install and expand.
 It is less costly than a star topology.
Drawbacks of Ring Topology
 The failure of a single node in the network can cause the entire network to fail.
 Troubleshooting is difficult in this topology.
 The addition of stations in between or the removal of stations can disturb the whole topology.
 Less secure.

5. Tree Topology
This topology is the variation of the Star topology. This topology has a hierarchical flow of data. The tree network topology consists of
one root node, and all other nodes are connected in a hierarchy.

Figure 4: In this, the various secondary hubs are connected to the central hub
which contains the repeater. This data flow from top to bottom i.e. from the central
hub to the secondary and then to the devices or from bottom to top i.e. devices to
the secondary hub and then to the central hub. It is a multi-point connection and a
non-robust topology because if the backbone fails the topology crashes.

Advantages of Tree Topology

It allows more devices to be attached to a single central hub thus it decreases the distance that is traveled by the signal
to come to the devices.
 It allows the network to get isolated and also prioritize from different computers.
 We can add new devices to the existing network.
 Error detection and error correction are very easy in a tree topology.
Drawbacks of Tree Topology
 If the central hub gets fails the entire system fails.
 The cost is high because of the cabling.
 If new devices are added, it becomes difficult to reconfigure.

A common example of a tree topology is the hierarchy in a large organization. At the top of the tree is the CEO, who is connected
to the different departments or divisions (child nodes) of the company. Each department has its own hierarchy, with managers
overseeing different teams (grandchild nodes). The team members (leaf nodes) are at the bottom of the hierarchy, connected to
their respective managers and departments.

6. Hybrid Topology
A hybrid topology is defined as a network topology that combines two or more different network topologies. A hybrid topology can
be a combination of bus topology, ring topology and mesh topology. The selection of different types of network topologies
combined together depends upon the number of computers, their location, and the required performance. In the hybrid topology
network sections consist of a configuration of different types of network topologies. The structure of hybrid topology is more
complex but offers various advantages such as flexibility and fault tolerance .

Figure 5: The above figure shows the structure of the Hybrid topology. As seen it contains
a combination of all different types of networks.

Advantages of Hybrid Topology

 This topology is very flexible.
 The size of the network can be easily expanded by adding new devices.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Topology
 It is challenging to design the architecture of the Hybrid Network.
 Hubs used in this topology are very expensive.
 The infrastructure cost is very high as a hybrid network requires a lot of cabling and network devices.

A common example of a hybrid topology is a university campus network. The network may have a backbone of a star topology,
with each building connected to the backbone through a switch or router. Within each building, there may be a bus or ring topology
connecting the different rooms and offices. The wireless access points also create a mesh topology for wireless devices. This
hybrid topology allows for efficient communication between different buildings while providing flexibility and redundancy within
each building.

7. Mesh Topology
Mesh Topology is a network setup where each nodes is interconnected with one another. This setup allows most transmission to be
distributed even if one of the connections goes down. It is a topology commonly used for wireless networks.

Figure 1: Every device is connected to another via dedicated channels. These channels are known as
links.

Advantages of Mesh Topology

 Communication is very fast between the nodes.
 Mesh Topology is robust.
 The fault is diagnosed easily. Data is reliable because data is transferred among the devices through dedicated
channels or links.
 Provides security and privacy.
Drawbacks of Mesh Topology
 Installation and configuration are difficult.
 The cost of cables is high as bulk wiring is required, hence suitable for less number of devices.
 The cost of maintenance is high.
A common example of mesh topology is the internet backbone, where various internet service providers are connected to each
other via dedicated channels. This topology is also used in military communication systems and aircraft navigation systems.