Topic : Communication

Sub topics: Introduction to Networking and Networking Topologies

05/31/2024 1
Network:
 A network is a set of nodes (devices) connected by communication links.
 A node can be a computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending and/or
receiving data generated by other nodes on the network.

A network is two or more devices connected through links. A link is a communication

pathway that transfers data from one device to another.

There are two possible types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

Point-to-Point: A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between two
devices. The entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between those two
devices.
Example : connection between the remote control and the television's control system.

05/31/2024 2
 Multipoint :
 A multipoint connection is connection in which 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.

05/31/2024 3
 Communication Link
Station A Station B

Point –to-point Connection

Station 1 Station 2

Mainframe

Station 3 Station 4
05/31/2024 4
Multipoint Connection
Benefits of Networks:
The following are some of the benefits of networks.
 Provide convenience: Computers on a network can back up their files over the
network.

 Allow sharing: Networked Computers can share resources such as printers and disks.
 Facilitate communication: Networks facilitate the communication such as sending
and receiving email, transferring files and video conferencing.

 Generate savings: Networked computers can provide more computing power for less
money. Since resources can be shared, not everyone need their own peripherals which
can result in cost savings.

 Provide reliability : If one part of a network is down, useful work may be still
possible using a different network path.
 Simplifying scalability : It is easy to add more computers to an existing network.
05/31/2024 5
Network Topologies :

 Network topology refers to the way in which a network is laid out physically.
 The topology of a network is the geometric representation of the relationship of all
the links and linking devices (nodes) to one another.

There are four basic topologies

 Mesh Topology
 Star Topology
 Bus Topology
 Ring Topology

05/31/2024 6
 1. Mesh Topology :
In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to
every other device. The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only between
the two devices it connects.
Example: connection of telephone regional offices in which each regional office needs to be connected
to every other regional office.
Advantages :
2. Eliminate the traffic problems that can occur when links shared by multiple
devices.
3. Mesh topology is robust.
4. Privacy and Security
4. Point-to-point links make fault identification and fault isolation easy.

Disadvantages:
1. More amount of cabling and the number of I/O ports required.
2. The hardware required to connect each link (I/O ports and cable) can be expensive.
05/31/2024 7
 Mesh Topology
Device 1

Device 2 Device 3

Device 4 Device 5

05/31/2024 8
2. Star Topology :
 In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a central
controller, called a hub.
 The devices are not directly linked to one another.
 A star topology does not allow direct traffic between devices. The controller acts as an
exchange.
 If one device wants to send data to another, it sends the data to the controller, which then
relays the data to the other connected device.
Example: The star topology is used in local-area networks (LANs). High-speed LANs often
use a star topology with a central hub.
Advantages:
1. A star topology is less expensive than a mesh topology.
2. Robustness
3. easy to install and reconfigure
Disadvantages:
1. Star topology is dependent on hub . If the hub goes down, the whole system is dead.
05/31/2024 9
 Star Topology

Central Hub

Device 1 Device 2 Device 3 Device 4

05/31/2024 10
 3. Bus Topology :
A bus Topology is multipoint connection. One long cable acts as a backbone to link all
the devices in a network.

Device 1 Device 2 Device 3

Drop Line Drop Line

Drop Line
Cable

Tap Tap
Tap

05/31/2024 11
  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.

Advantages:
 Ease of installation
 Bus topology uses less cabling than mesh or star topologies.
Disadvantages:
 Difficult reconnection and fault isolation
 Difficult to add new devices

05/31/2024 12
 4. Ring Topology:
In a 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 messages and passes them along path.
Example : Token Ring.
Advantages :
Easy to install and reconfigure
Fault isolation is simplified

Disadvantages:
Unidirectional traffic
Break in the ring disable the entire network
05/31/2024 13
 Ring Topology

Device 3
Device 2

Repeate Repeater
r

Device 1 Repeater Repeater Device 4

Repeater Repeater

Device Device 5
6

05/31/2024 14
References:
1. Data Communications and Networking , Fourth Edition, Behrouz A.Forouzan

2. Computer Networks, Fifth Edition, Tanenbaum, Wetherall

05/31/2024 15