LAN Topolologies and Security

Issues
By Alex Gett
 Basic Overview of LAN Topologies

• A network’s basic design plays a big part

in its operation and performance. The
network topology dictates the media used,
the type of channel access, and the speed
at which the network operates.
Topologies that will be covered
• Physical bus
• Logical bus
• Physical ring
• Logical ring
• Physical star
• Wireless
• Variations of physical topologies: extended star,
mesh and combination star bus topologies.
• Hubs and Switches
 Definitions

• Topology- A network’s topology refers to

the physical layout of it’s computers,
cables and other resources and how these
components communicate with each other.
 Definitions cont.

• Physical topology- The arrangement of

cabling in a network.
• Logical topology- The path that data
travels between two computers on a
network
 Basic Topologies

• Today, all network designs are based on

three simple physical topologies: bus, star
and ring.

Star Topology Ring Topology

 Physical Bus Topology
• A bus consists of a series of computers
connected along a single cable segment.
• A bus topology is the simplest method for
connecting computers; at one time it was also
the most popular method.
• However, these topologies have a weakness. A
single break in the backbone, the cable segment
that interconnects all the computers in a straight
line, can halt the entire network.
• Two properties involved with a physical bus
topology: Signal propagation and signal bounce.
 Physical Bus cont.
• Signal propagation- The traveling of data as
electrical pulses across the length of the cable.
• These signals continue to travel along the cable
and through any connecting devices until they
weaken enough where they are no longer
detectable or until they come across a device
that absorbs them.
• Even if a signal reaches the end of a cable, it will
bounce back and travel the other direction.
 Physical Bus cont.
• Signal Bounce- A signal traveling across a
network continuously, bouncing back and forth
and preventing other computers from sending
data.
• To prevent this, a terminator is attached to
each end of a cable to prevent signals from
bouncing.
• The terminator absorbs all signals that reach it,
clearing the network for new communications.
 Physical Bus cont.

• A cable break in a bus network occurs

when the cable is physically cut or one
end becomes disconnected.
• When this occurs, the cable is no longer
terminated and signals are now able to
bounce, which halts network activity.
 Logical Bus Topology
• When a computer has data to send, it addresses
that data, breaks it into manageable chunks and
sends it across the network as electronic signals.
• On a logical bus, all connected computers
receive these chunks of data. However, because
of the address included in the data, only
computers for which the signals are destined
receive the data.
 Logical Bus cont.
• In a logical bus environment, only one computer
can send information successfully at a time.
• Because of this, all network users must share
the available amount of transmission time.
• The more computers that are ready to send data
at the same time, the longer some computers
must wait to send data; which slows the overall
network performance.
 Logical Bus cont.
• A bus topology is a “passive topology”
• Passive topology- Computers on the bus only
listen for data being sent; they aren’t
responsible for moving data from one computer
to the next.
• The other form of this concept is called an
active topology; which is when computers and
other devices attached to the network
regenerate signals and are responsible for
moving data through the network.
 Physical Ring Topology

• A physical ring network is when each

computer connects directly to the next
computer in line, ending at the starting
computer.
• Because the circle has no end, signals
travel in one direction around the ring;
this eliminates the need for termination.
 Physical Ring cont.

• Every computer in a ring is responsible for

retransmitting the data, making it an
active topology.
• A typical single-ring network can fail if one
computer in the ring fails, but a dual-ring
network can still operate is such a failure
occurs.
 Logical Ring Topology
• The data in a logical ring topology travels from one
device to the next until it reaches its destination.
• One method of this data passing is called token
passing; when small packet called a token passes
around the ring to each computer in turn.
• If a computer has information to send, it modifies the
token, adds address information and the data, then
sends it around the ring. The information travels around
the ring until it reaches its destination or returns to the
sender.
• When the intended destination receives the information,
it returns a message to the sender to acknowledge its
safe arrival.
 Logical Ring cont.
• Most logical ring topologies use smart hubs that
recognize a computer’s failure and remove the
computer from the ring automatically.
• The technology of smart hubs is one of the
advantages of using a ring topology.
• Another advantage is its capability to share
network resources fairly; this feature is useful in
high-traffic and time-critical applications.
 Physical Star Topology
• A star topology describes computers connected
by cable segments to a central device.
• Because all computers connect at one location,
the star topology requires a more involved cable
installation: through conduits, under floors, and
in ceilings to get the cable from the computer
work area to the connecting device.
 Physical Star cont.

• If the central connecting device (hub)

fails, all other computers and devices
attached to that device lose network
access, on the flip side, if one computer or
a cable fails, it has no effect on the rest of
the network (unlike the bus or ring
topologies).
 Physical Star cont.

• Another advantage of the star topology is

the ease of trouble shooting.
• Since all computers connect at a central
location, an administrator can quickly
isolate network problems involving a
single device or cable segment without
affecting other devices.
 Logical Bus Implemented as a
Physical Star
• When the arrangement cables forms a physical
star, but data traveling to the computers follows
a logical bus, the result is referred to as a “star
bus.”
• A hub is the central device in this topology.
• When a computer sends a signal, the hub
receives it and retransmits it down every other
cable segment to all other computers attached
to it.
 Logical Ring Implemented as a
Physical Star
• A “star ring” topology also uses a star’s
physical cable arrangement, but data
travel within the central device is in a ring
configuration.
• The central device in this topology is
called a concentrator, or multistation
access unit (MSAU).
 Wireless Topologies
• Wireless networks eliminate the need for a
visible physical topology, which is the main
reason for their growing popularity. There are
no cables to run, terminate or test.
• The simplest wireless configuration is when two
computers can communicate directly with one
another. This is called an ad hoc topology, or
a peer-to-peer topology.
• This arrangement is usually used in small or
temporary installations.
 Wireless cont.
• There is no central device in a wireless topology.
• In most situations, their central device is called an
access point, which controls communications, much
like a hub.
• When wireless devices are configured to use this central
access point, it is called infrastructure mode.
• Wireless LAN’s use a physical star topology because all
signals travel through one central device, but since only
one wireless device can communicate with an access
point at a time, it could also be called a logical bus
topology.
 Extended Star Topology
• This topology is the most widely used in
networks containing more than just a few
computers.
• This topology revolves around a central device
called a switch. Other switches, or hubs, that
connect the computers which make up the
network are connected into the central switch’s
ports.
• This topology is also referred to as a hierarchical
star because there are two or more layers of
stars, all connecting back to the central star.
 Mesh Topology

• A mesh network topology is the most fault

tolerant, but also the most expensive.
• Any single cable or device failure in a
mesh configuration barely affects network
performance because of the multiple
connections to each device; but costs
increase because more cable and
hardware are required.
 Mesh cont.

• In most cases, a mesh topology is used in

a WAN to ensure that all sites remain able
to communicate, even with one or more
cable failures.
• One of the best examples of a mesh
topology is the internet.
 Hubs

• Hubs act as the center of a star topology.

• A hub is defined as the center of
activity.
• There are different variations to a hub:
active hub, passive hub, repeating hub
and switching hub.
 Hubs cont.
• The majority of hubs installed in networks today are
active hubs. These hubs regenerate/repeat the signals
as they receive them and send them along. Usually
active hubs have eight or more ports and are sometimes
referred to as multiport repeaters or repeating hubs.
• A multiport repeater:
– Takes a signal coming in on one port
– Cleans the signal by filtering out noise and other undesired
information
– Strengthens the signal by regenerating it to original signal levels.
– Sends the regenerated signal out to all other ports.
 Hubs cont.
• In Passive hubs (patch pannel, punchdown
block) the signal passes through the hub without
any amplification or regeneration.
• A passive hub is simply a central connection
point and requires no power because no
electronic signal modification occurs.
• These hubs are used as junction points between
long and short runs of cable.
 Switches
• A switch is also a central connecting point in a
star topology network. Unlike a hub, a switch
does more than just generate signals.
• A switch looks just like a hub, but a switch
determines to which port the destination device
is connected and forwards the message to only
that port.
• This procedure allows a switch to handle several
conversations at one time.
 Switches cont.
• The performance advantage of switches has
made them the device of choice in corporate
networks.
• Most networks today are designed to use
switches for connecting computers, servers, and
peripheral devices.
• Although multiport repeaters (hubs) can still be
found in the workplace, few networks are being
designed to include these devices.
 Selecting a Topology
• When selecting a topology, you should choose one that best fits
your environment, here are some things to consider:
• A ring topology should be considered when equipment associated
with ring architecture would be too difficult to replace or too
expensive
• A hub-based bus topology should be considered if a small network is
being constructed; this topology can also be considered if a few
computers are being added to an existing network.
• A wireless topology can be considered as an add-on to an existing
wired network. This can provide connectivity to mobile users and
reach locations that might be difficult to connect with wires; this
topology is also best suited for environments that are not suitable
for running cables.
 Security Issues

• There are some security issues to be

aware of when working with certain
topologies.
• Here are a few examples:
 Security cont.

• When sending a data from one user to

another, the star topology sends it directly
through the hub to the receiver. In the
ring and bus topologies, the message is
routed past other users. As a result,
sensitive data messages can be
intercepted by these other uses in these
types of topologies.
 Security cont.
• When setting up a wireless topology, many
administrators fail to remember basic security
precautions. Since all 802.11b networking is
done using high-band radio-frequency (RF)
signals, the data transmitted is easily accessible
to any user with a 802.11b NIC, or other sniffing
tools (dsniff, snort).
• -802.11 is the wireless networking standard.
 Conclusion

• All computers, no matter what their

topology, communicate in the very same
way. They address data to one or more
computers and then transmit that data
across the cable in the form of electronic
signals.