Module 1-Network Criteria, Network Topology
Module 1-Network Criteria, Network Topology
1.1
Objective
The first section introduces data communications and
defines their components and the types of data exchanged. It
also shows how different types of data are represented and
how data is flowed through the network.
1.3
Data Communications
o Delivery
oThe system must deliver data to the correct destination. Data must be received by the
intended device or user and only by that device or user
o Accuracy
oThe system must deliver the data accurately. Data that have been altered in transmission
and left uncorrected are unusable
o Timeliness
o The system must deliver data in a timely manner. Data delivered late are useless.
o Jitter
o Jitter refers to the variation in the packet arrival time. It is the uneven delay in the delivery
of audio or video packets
1.4
1.1.1 Components
A data communications system has five components
1.Message
The message is the information (data) to be communicated.
Ex : text, numbers, pictures, audio, and video.
2. Sender
Device that sends the data message. It can be a computer,
workstation, telephone handset, video camera, and so on.
3. Receiver
Device that receives the message. It can be a computer,
workstation, telephone handset, television, and so on.
4. Transmission medium
Physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver.
1.6
1.1.2 Data Representation
1.7
1.1.3 Data Flow
Communication between two devices
Simplex mode
Communication is unidirectional.
Only one of the two devices on a link can transmit; the other can
only receive.
Can use the entire capacity of the channel to send data in one
direction.
Ex : Keyboards and traditional monitors
Half-Duplex
each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time.
the entire capacity of a channel is taken over by whichever of the
two devices is transmitting at the time. Ex : Walkie-Talkie
1.8
1.1.3 Data Flow
Communication between two devices contd..
Full-Duplex
Both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously
Signals going in one direction share the capacity of the link with
signals going in the other direction.
This sharing can occur in two ways:
Either the link must contain two physically separate transmission paths,
one for sending and the other for receiving;
Or the capacity of the channel is divided between signals traveling in both
directions.
Ex : Telephone network.
When two people are communicating by a telephone line, both
can talk and listen at the same time.
1.9
Figure 1.2: Data flow
1.10
1-2 NETWORKS
Performance
• Transit time , Response Time
• Number of users, the type of transmission medium, the capabilities of
the connected hardware, and the efficiency of the software
• Throughput & Delay
Reliability
• Frequency of failure, the time it takes a link to recover from a failure,
• Network's robustness in a catastrophe
Security
• Protecting data from unauthorized access
1.12
1.2.2 Physical Structures –
Type of Connection
Point-to-Point
Dedicated link between two devices.
Entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between
those two devices.
Multipoint (multidrop) connection
More than two specific devices share a single link
In a multipoint environment, the capacity of the channel is
shared, either spatially or temporally.
If several devices can use the link simultaneously, it is a spatially
shared connection.
If users must take turns, it is a timeshared connection.
1.13
Figure 1.3: Types of connection
1.14
1.15
Physical Topology
Way in which a network is laid out physically.
Topology of network is the geometric representation of the
relationship of all the links and linking devices (usually called nodes)
to one another.
1.17
Mesh Topology
Every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every
other device.
Number of physical links in a fully connected mesh
network with n nodes = n(n-1)/2 duplex links.
Advantages
Dedicated link guarantees that each connection can carry its own
data load. Eliminating the traffic problems that can occur when
links must be shared by multiple devices.
Robust Topology. If one link becomes unusable, it does not
incapacitate the entire system.
Privacy or security. Only the intended recipient sees it.
Point-to-point links make fault identification and fault isolation
easy
1.18
Mesh Topology contd..
Disadvantages
Amount of cabling and the number of I/O ports
required
Installation and reconnection are difficult.
available space.
Usually implemented in a limited fashion,
1.19
Star Topology
Each device has a dedicated point-to-point
link only to a central controller (usually HUB)
Unlike a mesh, does not allow direct traffic
between devices.
The controller acts as an exchange.
If one device wants to send data to another.
(Data -> Controller (Relays) -> Destination).
1.20
Figure 1.5: A star topology
1.21
Star Topology contd..
Advantages
Less expensive than mesh topology
Each device needs only one link and one I/O port to connect it to any
number of others.
Makes it easy to install and reconfigure.
Less cabling needs to be housed, and additions, moves, and deletions
involve only one connection: between that device and the hub.
Robustness. If one link fails, only that link is affected
Disadvantages
Dependency of the whole topology on one single point, the hub.
If the hub goes down, the whole system is dead.
1.22
Bus Topology
Multipoint compared to other point to point connections.
One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the devices in a
network.
Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines and taps.
A drop line is a connection running between the device and the
main cable.
A tap is a connector that either splices into the main cable or
punctures the sheathing of a cable to create a contact with the
metallic core.
As a signal travels along the backbone, some of its energy is
transformed into heat. Therefore, it becomes weaker and weaker
as it travels farther and farther.
Limit on the number of taps a bus can support and on the distance
between those taps
1.23
Figure 1.6: A bus topology
1.24
Bus Topology contd..
Advantages
Ease of installation.
Backbone cable can be laid along the most efficient path, then connected to the nodes by drop
lines of various lengths.
Bus uses less cabling than mesh or star topologies.
Disadvantages
Difficult reconnection and fault isolation.
Signal reflection at the taps can cause degradation in quality. This degradation can be
controlled by limiting the number and spacing of devices connected to a given length of cable.
Adding new devices may therefore require modification or replacement of the backbone.
A fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission. The damaged area reflects signals back
in the direction of origin, creating noise in both directions.
Ex : Ethernet LANs can use a bus topology used in early LANs
1.25
Ring Topology
Each device has a dedicated point-to-point
connection with only the two devices on either
side of it.
A signal is passed along the ring in one
direction, from device to device, until it reaches
its destination.
Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater.
When a device receives a signal intended for
another device, its repeater regenerates the bits
and passes them along.
1.26
Figure 1.7: A ring topology
1.27
Ring Topology contd..
Advantages
Easy to install and reconfigure.
Each device is linked to only its immediate neighbors (either physically
or logically).
The only constraints are media and traffic considerations (maximum
ring length and number of devices).
Fault isolation is simplified
Disadvantages
Unidirectional traffic can be a disadvantage.
A break in the ring (such as a disabled station) can disable the entire
network.
This weakness can be solved by using a dual ring.
Ring topology was prevalent when IBM introduced its local-area
network Token Ring
1.28
Hybrid Topology
Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks
1.29
1-4 PROTOCOLS AND STANDARDS
1.30
PROTOCOLS AND STANDARDS
A protocol
a set of rules that govern data communications.
what is communicated, how it is communicated, and when it is
communicated.
Key elements
Syntax
1.31
STANDARDS
Creating and maintaining an open and competitive
market for equipment manufacturers.
Guarantee national and international
interoperability of data and telecommunications
technology and processes.
Provide guidelines
manufacturers,
vendors,
government agencies, and
service providers
de facto (meaning "by fact" or "by convention") and de
jure (meaning "by law" or "by regulation").
1.32
Standards Organizations
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
active in developing cooperation in the realms of scientific,
technological, and economic activity
International Telecommunication Union-
Telecommunication Standards Sector (ITU-T).
American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
1.33