By the end of the lesson, I should be able to:

1. Define networking

2. State the types of network

3. Identify network topologies

Networking

1. Definition of Networking:

Networking refers to the practice of connecting computers and other devices together to share
resources, communicate, and exchange data. A computer network can be defined as two or more
computers or devices linked together to facilitate communication and resource sharing.
Networking allows for efficient use of resources and enhances connectivity between systems.

Local area network (LAN): This is a kind of network that involves connecting computers and
other devices within a limited geographical local such as a building, school, or home. A Wireless
LAN (WLAN) is similar to a LAN but uses wireless medium for connection.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): This network generally expands throughout a city such as
cable TV. MAN can help an organization to connect all of its offices in a city.

Wide Area Network (WAN): This network covers a wide geographical area such as a country
or even the world. Most WANs consist of two or more LANs that are connected by routers.
Communication channels can include telephone systems, fiber optics, satellites, microwave etc.
The largest WAN is the internet.
Other variations include Personal Area Network (PAN), Campus Area Network (CAN), Home
Area Network (HAN) etc.

Network architecture

Peer-to-peer: In this network, the computers connected together are called peers and each
handles its security. Peer-to-peer networks are designed to satisfy the networking needs of home
networks or of small companies that do not want to spend a lot of money on a dedicated server
but still want to have the capability to share information or devices.

Client/Server: Computers (clients) are connected to a server. The server takes responsibility of
storing clients’ data and managing other computers (clients) in the network.

Network topology
Topology is the arrangement of nodes (computers) and other devices within a network. Topology
can either be:
Physical topology: this is the actual layout of the computers and other connected devices.
Logical topology: this describes the logical pathway signal flow as it passes among the network
nodes. It defines the way data passes among the nodes.

Types of topology

Bus topology: A bus topology uses one cable as a main trunk (or backbone) to connect all of the
systems together. 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.

Star topology: In star topology, all computers are connected to a centralized device called a hub
or a switch. All data that is transferred from one computer to the other must pass through the
hub/switch.

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.

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 with few hosts only.
3. Network Topology:

Network topology refers to the arrangement of various elements (links, nodes, etc.) in a
computer network. The common types of network topologies are:

 Star Topology: In this topology, all devices are connected to a central hub or switch. If
the central hub fails, the entire network may go down.
 Bus Topology: A linear topology where each device is connected to a single
communication line. Data is sent along the bus, and each device checks whether the data
is intended for it.
 Ring Topology: Devices are connected in a circular formation, where each device has
two connections, one to its left and one to its right. Data travels in one direction until it
reaches its destination.

Advantages

1. Star Topology:

 Ease of Installation: Star topology is easy to set up, configure, and manage since all
devices are connected to a central hub or switch.
 Centralized Management: The central hub allows for better control and easier
troubleshooting of the network.
 Fault Isolation: If a single cable or device fails, the rest of the network remains
unaffected because each device is independently connected to the hub.
 Scalability: Adding or removing devices is easy without disturbing the overall network.
2. Bus Topology:

 Cost-Effective: Since fewer cables are needed compared to star topology, the initial
setup cost is low.
 Simple Design: Bus topology has a straightforward design and is easy to understand.
 Easy Expansion: Devices can be easily added to the bus without causing major
disruptions to the network.
 Suitable for Small Networks: It works well for small networks where the amount of
data transmission is low.

3. Ring Topology:

 Data Flow: Data travels in one direction, reducing the chances of collisions, making it
more efficient for smaller networks.
 Performance: Ring topology can provide better performance than bus topology in
moderate-sized networks since each device has equal access to resources.
 Orderly Data Transmission: Each device gets equal opportunity to transmit data,
reducing chances of data collision.
 Easier Fault Detection: It's easier to pinpoint where the failure occurs in the ring
because each device is linked to two others in a structured way.