chapter 03

Components of the network

3.1 Hardware Network Components

HUB:- is a device that have Multiple ports that accept Ethernet connections
from Network devices. When a data packet arrive in one of the port it is coped to
all other ports so all the devices on that HUB can see that data packet
Hardware Network Components…..
Con’t
Switch:- it is vary similar to HUB, the only difference is that switch is an
intelligent, that mines it understand (learn) the physical addresses of the
devices that are connected to it and restore this addresses on a table, so
when a data packet sent to the switch it directly sent to the intended
destination port. That is the is the major different between switch and HUB.
So switch are more preferable then HUB because they reduce any un
necessary traffic on the network

Routers:- is a device that route or forward data from one network to the
other based on the IP Address or router is a getaway for a network
Hardware Network Components…..
Con’t
NIC(Network Interface Card ):- is used to connect a computer to a network,
it’s job is to convert incoming serial data into parallel data that the computer
can understand it. Every NIC have its own unique identifier called MAK
Address
Hardware Network Components…..
Con’t
WAP(Wireless Access Point):- is basically a wireless HUB that is used by a
wireless devices, it relates data between the wired network and the wireless
devices for communication propose
Hardware Network Components…..
Con’t
Repeater is a type of network node that amplifies incoming signals and
rebroadcasts them over a wider area or higher network layer than the
original signal. In computer networks, a repeater is used to increase the
network's reach, restore a damaged or weak signal, or provide access to
inaccessible nodes.
 3.2 Network Types
Network Criteria
 Performance: can be measured using
 Transit time - amount of time required for a
message to travel)
 Response time - elapsed time between an
inquiry and the response
 Reliability: measured by the frequency of
failure, the time it takes a link to recover
from failure, and the network’s
robustness in a catastrophe
 Security: protecting data and network
infrastructure from unauthorized access
Local Area Network(LAN)
 Networks infrastructures can vary greatly in terms of:
• The size of the area covered
• The number of users connected
• The number and types of services available
 An individual network usually spans a single geographical area,
providing services and applications to people within a common
organizational structure, such as a single business, campus or region.
 This type of network is called a Local Area Network (LAN).
 A LAN is usually administered by a single organization.
 The administrative control that governs the security and access
control policies are enforced on the network level.
Metropolitan Area Network

 A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that usually

spans a city or a large campus.
 A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs)
using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and
provides up-link services to wide area networks(or WAN) and the Internet.
 A MAN is optimized for a larger geographical area than a LAN, ranging
from several blocks of buildings to entire cities.
 MANs can also depend on communications channels of moderate-to-high
data rates.
 A MAN might be owned and operated by a single organization, but it
usually will be used by many individuals and organizations.
 MANs might also be owned and operated as public utilities.
 They will often provide means for internetworking of local networks
Wide Area Network

 When a company or organization has locations that are separated by large

geographical distances, it may be necessary to use a telecommunications
service provider (TSP) to interconnect the LANs at the different locations.
 Telecommunications service providers operate large regional networks
that can span long distances.
 Traditionally, TSPs transported voice and data communications on
separate networks.
 Increasingly, these providers are offering converged information network
services to their subscribers.
 Individual organizations usually lease connections through a
telecommunications service provider network.
 These networks that connect LANs in geographically separated locations
are referred to as Wide Area Networks (WANs).
WAN(cont…)

 Although the organization maintains all of the policies and

administration of the LANs at both ends of the connection, the
policies within the communications service provider network are
controlled by the TSP.
 WANs use specifically designed network devices to make the
interconnections between LANs.
 Because of the importance of these devices to the network,
configuring, installing and maintaining these devices are skills that
are integral to the function of an organization's network.
 LANs and WANs are very useful to individual organizations. They
connect the users within the organization.
 They allow many forms of communication including exchange e-
mails, corporate training, and other resource sharing.
Internet: A network of Networks

 Although there are benefits to using a LAN or WAN, most of us need to

communicate with a resource on another network, outside of our local
organization.
 Examples of this type of communication include:
• Sending an e-mail to a friend in another country
• Accessing news or products on a website
• Getting a file from a neighbor's computer
• Instant messaging with a relative in another city
• Following a favorite sporting team's performance on a cell phone
Internetwork
 A global mesh of interconnected networks (internetworks) meets these human
communication needs.
 Some of these interconnected networks are owned by large public and private
organizations, such as government agencies or industrial enterprises, and are
reserved for their exclusive use.
Internet(cont…)

 The most well-known and widely used publicly-accessible internetwork is the

Internet.
 The Internet is created by the interconnection of networks belonging to
Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
 These ISP networks connect to each other to provide access for millions of
users all over the world.
 Ensuring effective communication across this diverse infrastructure requires
the application of consistent and commonly recognized technologies and
protocols as well as the cooperation of many network administration agencies.
Intranet
 The term intranet is often used to refer to a private connection of LANs and
WANs that belongs to an organization, and is designed to be accessible only by
the organization's members, employees, or others with authorization.
Internet(cont…)

Extranet is part of an Intranet, which is also categorized as a “Private

Network”.
 It is controlled and managed by an organization, to provide secure
access to Intranet from the outside world.
 Many business organizations need their business partners and customers
to connect to Intranet to enhance communication and efficiency.
 Since the Intranet permits only internal members to gain access, external
members (partners and customers) use Extranet to access the network
 system administration/management can decide which users should allow
through Extranet. Generally, external users are given limited access over
the Intranet.
 Not only external users, sometimes members of the organization itself
who may need to access the network over the Internet can use Extranet.
 Note: The following terms may
be interchangeable:
internetwork, data network, and
network.
 A connection of two or more
data networks forms an
internetwork - a network of
networks.
 It is also common to refer to an
internetwork as a data network
- or simply as a network - when
considering communications at
a high level. The usage of terms
depends on the context at the
time and terms may often be
interchanged.
 Network Topologies

What is a Topology?
The term topology, or more specifically, network
topology, refers to the arrangement or physical
layout of computers, cables, and other
components on the network. "Topology" is the
standard term that most network professionals
use when they refer to the network's basic design.
Topology describes how the network is constructed.
A network's topology affects its capabilities. The choice of one topology over another will have an impact on the:

 Type of equipment the network needs.

 Capabilities of the equipment.
 Growth of the network.
 Way the network is managed.
 Types of topologies
1.Linear Bus Topology
2.Star Topology
3.Ring Topology
4.Mesh Topolgy
5.By modifying and combining some of the
characteristics of these “pure” network
topologies , “hybrid” topologies result that can
often provide greater efficiency.
eg. Tree, star-star, hybrid topology.
 1. Linear Bus (Bus)

A linear bus
topology consists of
a main run of cable
with a terminator at
each end (See fig.All
nodes (file server,
workstations, and
peripherals) are
connected to the
linear cable.
 Advantages of a Linear Bus
Topology

 Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a

linear bus.
 Requires less cable length than a star topology.
 Very easy to extend
 Disadvantages of a Linear Bus
Topology
 Entire network shuts down if there is a break in
the main cable.
 Terminators are required at both ends of the
backbone cable.
 Difficult to identify the problem if the entire
network shuts down.
 The trunk can be bottle neck to the network when
network traffic is very heavy.
 2. Star
 A star topology is
designed with each
node (file server,
workstations, and
peripherals) connected
directly to a central
network hub or Switch.
 Data on a star network
passes through the hub
before continuing to its
destination.
 Advantages of a Star Topology
 Easy to install and wire.
 No disruptions to the network then connecting or
removing devices.
 Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.
Disadvantages of a Star Topology
 Requires more cable length than a linear
topology.
 If the hub or fails, nodes attached are disabled.
 More expensive than linear bus topologies
because of the cost of the hubs and cable.
 3. Ring Topology
 The ring topology connects computers on a single
circle of cable.
 Unlike the bus topology, there are no terminated
ends. The signals travel around the loop in one
direction and pass through each computer, which
can act as a repeater to boost the signal and send
it on to the next computer.
 The failure of one computer can have an impact
on the entire network.
A star-wired ring topology may appear
(physically) to be the same as a star topology.
Logically, the MAU (multistation access unit) of a
star-wired ring contains wiring that allows
information to pass from one device to another in
a circle or ring.
Ring topology
 Token Passing
 One method of transmitting data around a ring is called
token passing. (A token is a special series of bits that
travels around a token-ring network. Each network has
only one token.)
 The token is passed from computer to computer until it
gets to a computer that has data to send.
 The sending computer modifies the token, puts an
electronic address on the data, and sends it around the
ring.
Advantages of a Ring Topology
 Fault diagnostic and isolation are relatively easy
 The modular design results in a network that is
easy to expand
 Disadvantages of a Ring
Topology
 Network configuration can be technically
complicated
 The cabling system is complicated
 4. Mesh Topology
 A mesh topology network offers superior
redundancy and reliability.
 In a mesh topology, each computer is connected
to every other computer by separate cabling. This
configuration provides redundant paths
throughout the network so that if one cable fails,
another will take over the traffic.
 While ease of troubleshooting and increased
reliability are definite things, these networks are
expensive to install because they use a lot of
cabling.
Mesh topology
 5.Hybrid Topologies

5.1 Star Bus

 The star bus is a combination of the bus and star
topologies.
 In a star-bus topology, several star topology
networks are linked together with linear bus
trunks.
 If one computer goes down, it will not affect the
rest of the network.
 The other computers can continue to
communicate. If a hub goes down, all computers
on that hub are unable to communicate. If a hub
is linked to other hubs, those connections will be
broken as well.
5.2 Star Bus
 5.3 Star Ring

 The star ring (sometimes called a star-wired ring)

appears similar to the star bus. Both the star ring
and the star bus are centered in a hub that
contains the actual ring or bus.
 Linear-bus trunks connect the hubs in a star bus,
while the hubs in a star ring are connected in a
star pattern by the main hub.
Star Ring
 5.3 Tree

 A tree topology combines characteristics of linear

bus and star topologies.
 It consists of groups of star-configured
workstations connected to a linear bus backbone
cable .
 Tree topologies allow for the expansion of an
existing network, and enable organizations to
configure a network to meet their needs.
Advantages of a Tree Topology
 Point-to-point wiring for individual segments.
 Supported by several hardware and software
venders.
Disadvantages of a Tree Topology
 Overall length of each segment is limited by the
type of cabling used.
 If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment
goes down.
 More difficult to configure and wire than other
topologies.
 Summary
Topology Advantages Disadvantages
Bus Use of cable is economical. Network can slow down in
heavy traffic.
Media is inexpensive and Problems are difficult to isolate.
easy to work with.
System is simple and Cable break can affect many
reliable. users.
Bus is easy to extend.
Ring System provides equal Failure of one computer can
access for all computers. impact the rest of the network.
Problems are hard to isolate.

Star Modifying system and adding If the centralized point fails, the
new computers is easy. network fails.
Centralized monitoring and
management are possible.
Failure of one computer does
not affect the rest of the
network.
Mesh System provides increased System is expensive to install
redundancy and reliability as because it uses a lot of cabling.
well as ease of
CHAPTER END
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