NETWORK TOPOLOGIES

Network topology is the layout pattern of interconnections of the various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a
computer network. Network topologies may be physical or logical.
Physical topology refers to the physical configuration of a network that determines how the network's
computers are connected.
Logical topology refers to how data is actually transferred in a network as opposed to its physical design.
The main types of physical topologies are: Bus Topology, Star Topology, Ring Topology, Mesh Topology,
Tree Topology, Hybrid Topology
1. Bus Topology
Bus Topology is the simplest of network topologies. In this type of
topology, all the computers are connected to the single cable (called bus),
by the help of interface connectors. A terminator is added at ends of the
central cable, to prevent bouncing of signals. A barrel connector can be
used to extend it.

Advantages Disadvantages
➢ It is easy to set-up and extend bus ➢ There is a limit on central cable length and number of nodes that
network. can be connected.
➢ Cable length required for this ➢ If the main cable (i.e. bus) encounters some problem, whole
topology is the least compared to network breaks down.
other networks. ➢ Efficiency of Bus network reduces, as the number of devices
➢ Bus topology costs very less. connected to it increases.
➢ Linear Bus network is mostly used ➢ It is not suitable for networks with heavy traffic.
in small networks. Good for LAN. Security is very low because all the computers receive the sent signa l
from the source.
 2. Ring Topology
In Ring Topology, all the nodes are connected to each-other in such a way that they make a closed loop. Data
travels around the network, in one direction. Sending and receiving of data takes place by the help of TOKEN.
Token contains a piece of information which along with data is sent by the source
computer.

Advantages Disadvantages
▪ No collision possible. ▪ It is slower than Star topology.
▪ The performance doesn‘t ▪ If one workstation or port goes down,
depend on the number of the entire network gets affected.
nodes. ▪ Network is highly dependent on the
▪ Each computer has equal wire which connects different
access to resources. components.
3. Star Topology
In Star topology, all the components of network are connected to a central device which may be a hub, a router
or a switch. All the data on the star topology passes through the central device before reaching the intended
destination.
Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Easy to add or to remove nodes or ▪ If the central device fails, the
devices. whole network goes down.
▪ Centralized management. It helps ▪ Very expensive to set up.
in monitoring the network.
▪ Failure of one node or link
doesn‘t affect the rest of network.
4. Mesh topology
In a mesh network topology, each of the network nodes are interconnected with one another. In fact a true
mesh topology is the one where every node is connected to every other node in the network.

Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Data can be transmitted from ▪ There are high chances of redundancy
different devices simultaneously. in many of the network connections.
▪ Even if one of the links fails there ▪ Overall cost of this network is way too
is always an alternative present. So high as compared to other network
data transfer doesn‘t get affected. topologies.
▪ Expansion and modification in ▪ Set-up and maintenance of this
topology can be done without topology is very difficult. Even
disrupting other nodes. administration of the network is
tough.
5. Tree Topology
Tree Topology is a mixture of the Star and Bus Topology. In Tree Topology, a number of Star networks are
connected using Bus. It is also called Expanded Star Topology.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Expansion of Network is possible and • If the main bus cable
easy. breaks, the whole
• Error detection and correction is easy. network is crippled.
• If one segment is damaged, other • Maintenance is difficult.
segments are not affected.

6. Hybrid topology
It is mixture of two or more than two different topologies. Similarly in this
type of topology we integrate two or more different topologies to form a
resultant topology having all the basic constituent of each topologies rather
than having characteristics of one specific topology.
 Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Reliable: fault detection and ▪ Complexity of Design: It‘s not easy to design this type of
troubleshooting is easy in this type of architecture and it‘s a tough job for designers because
topology. configuration and installation process needs to be very
▪ Scalable: It‘s easy to increase the size efficient.
of network by adding new components, ▪ Costly Hub: The hubs used to connect two distinct networks,
without disturbing existing are very expensive because they are intelligent enough to work
architecture. with different architectures and should function even if a part
▪ Flexible: can be designed according to of the network is down.
the requirements of the organization ▪ Costly Infrastructure: As hybrid architectures are usually
and by optimizing the available larger in scale, they require a lot of cables; cooling systems,
resources. sophisticate network devices, etc.

I. DATA COMMUNUCATION
Data communication is the exchange of data between two devices using some form of wired or wireless
transmission medium. It includes the transfer of data, the method of transfer and the preservation of data during
the transfer process.

I.1 Characteristics of data communication

For data communication to be effective, the following three fundamental characteristics should be considered:
✓ Delivery: The system must deliver data to the correct or the intended destination.
✓ Accuracy: The system must deliver data accurately (error-free).
✓ Timeliness: The system must deliver data as fast as possible.

I.2 Data Communication Components

There are five basic components in a data communication system
✓ Message: The message is the information that is to be communicated.
✓ Sender: The sender is the device that sends the message.
✓ Receiver: The receiver is the device that receives the message.
✓ Medium: The transmission medium is the physical path that communicates the message from the sender
to the receiver.
✓ Protocol: Protocol refers to a set of rules that coordinates the exchange of information. Both the sender
and the receiver should follow the same protocol to communicate data.

I.3 Data Transmission Mode

Data transmission mode refers to the direction of signal flow between two linked devices. There are three types
of transmission modes—simplex, half-duplex and full-duplex
a. Simplex:
Simplex transmission is unidirectional. The information
flows in one direction across the circuit, with no capability
to support response in the other direction.

b. Half-duplex:
In half-duplex mode, each communicating device can
receive and transmit information, but not at the same time.
When one device is sending, the other can only receive at
that point of time.
c. Full-duplex:
Allows both communicating devices to transmit and
receive data simultaneously. A full-duplex mode can be
compared to a two-way road with traffic flowing in both
directions.

I.4 Serial and Parallel Communication

Series transmission is a method of transmitting digital data in which each bit of data is transmitted one after
another over a single wire. I.e. it transmits a message one bit at a time through a channel. Each bit represents
part of the message. The individual bits are then reassembled at the destination to compose the message.
Parallel transmission is a method of communicating digital data more than one bit of data is transmitted at the
same time over two or more separate paths. Multiple electric wires are used which can transmit multiple bits
simultaneously which allows for faster data transfer than with serial transmission

I.5 Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication

Synchronous transmission is a data transfer method that sends continuous stream of data to the receiver using
regular timing signals. It is generally used when large amounts of data must be transferred very quickly from
one location to another. It is used in chat rooms and video conferencing
Asynchronous transmission is a data transfer method that sends data using start and stop bits (parity bits). It is
used in e-mails

I.6 Data Communication Measurement

Bandwidth refers to the maximum volume of data that can be transferred over any communication medium at a
given point of time. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps), which refers to the number of bits
transmitted per second; 1000 bps is 1 kilobit per second (Kbps). Bandwidth falls into three categories.
✓ Narrowband: A narrowband has a bandwidth not more than 1.544 Mbps.
✓ Wideband: In wideband, the bandwidth lies between 1.544 Mbps (also called T1 line) and 45 Mbps (T3
line).
✓ Broadband: In broadband, the bandwidth capacity is equal to 45 Mbps. Broadcast television, cable
television, microwave and satellite are examples of broadband technologies.

I.7 TRANSMISSION MEDIA

A transmission medium (plural transmission media) refers to the physical media through which communication
signals (data and information) can be transmitted from one point to another. There are two categories of
transmission media used in computer communications:

➢ Guided Media (or Bounded Media, or Wired Media)

• Twisted-pair wiring
It refers to a type of cable composed of four (or more) copper wires twisted around each other within a
plastic sheath. The wires are twisted to reduce outside
electrical interference.
• Coaxial Cable
Have a single central conductor, which is made up of
solid wire (usually copper). This conductor is
surrounded by an insulator over which a sleeve of
metal mesh is woven to block any outside interference.
This metal mesh is again shielded by an outer covering
of a thick material (usually PVC) known as jacket.
Coaxial cable is very robust and is commonly used in
Cable TV network.
• Fiber optic (or optical fiber)
They are made up of strands of glasses or tiny tubes of
glasses that transmits signals in the form of pulses of
light over long distances and at high bandwidth.

➢ Unguided Media (or unbounded Media, or Wireless Media)

Radio Frequency Propagation: In radio frequency propagation, the signal is
carried over carrier waves (waves, which carry signals over them), which have
frequencies in the range of radio
frequency spectrum.
Microwave Transmission: It transmit data using line-of-sight
communication. Microwave communication uses parabolic antennas
(satellite TV dish antennas) that are
mounted on the tower, which could be
tens of kilometers away, but in line of
sight.
Infrared Wave Transmission: Infrared frequencies are just below the visible
light spectrum. These are the high-frequency waves used for short-range
 communication. Infrared waves are used in TV remotes, garage doors and wireless
speakers. Computer machines in an office can easily be connected to wireless LAN
using infrared waves
Satellite Transmission: Satellite transmission is
similar to microwave transmission except instead of
transmission involving another nearby microwave dish
antenna; it involves a satellite many miles up in space.
The communication is carried through uplinks and
downlinks. The uplink transmits the data to the
satellite and downlink receives the data from the
satellite. Uplinks and downlinks are also called earth
stations because they are located on the Earth.
Bluetooth transmission: The Bluetooth technology is used to create a personal area
network (PAN) that lets electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, PDAs and
wireless keyboards to communicate with each other within the range of 10 m.
Wi-Fi transmission: The term Wi-Fi, which stands for Wireless Fidelity is widely
used for creating wireless LANs and also for providing wireless Internet access. To
create wireless LAN, the devices in the network such as computer, laptop and PDA
should be equipped with wireless network interface card (NIC) to send and receive Wi-
Fi signals. A Wi-Fi-enabled device should be within a specific range (i.e. up to 50 m)
from the network to connect.
Media Type Bandwidth Performance: Typical Error Rate Transfer rate
Twisted-pair (LAN) 1MHz Poor to fair (10–5) 10 Mbps – 100 Mbps
Coaxial cable (LAN) 1GHz Good (10–7 to 10–9) 10 Mbps – 1 Gbps
Microwave (WAN) 100GHz Good (10–9) 6 Mbps – 54 Mbps
Satellite (WAN) 100GHz Good (10–9) 50 Kbps – 100 Mbps
Fiber (WAN) 75THz Great (10–11 to 10–13) 50 Kbps – 100 Mbps