Foundation University Institute of management and computer sciences Topology:-
The physical layout or arrangment of connected
devices in a network is called topology.It is the shape of network.
The arrangment of network nodes and connections
between them is called the network’s topology.A node represent a computer. Cont…..
Network requir both network adapter hardware in
each device to be connected and some physical(or wirless) connection to hook them all together. Kindes of Topology Bus Topology Star Topology Ring Topology Mesh Topology Tree Topology Bus Topology Bus topology is the simplest type of network.It support small no of computers.In bus topology,all computers or network nodes are connected to a common communication medium.This medium is often a central wire known as bus.The terminators are used at the end of a bus to absorb signals. A collision can occur in bus topology if two computers transmit data at same time. Bus topology mostly used in peer-to-peer networks. Working:- The sending computer sends the data and destination address through the bus .The data and address move from one computer to the other in the network .Each computer checks the address .If it matches with the address of a computer , the computer keeps the data. Otherwise the data moves to the next computer. Advantages:- It is simle and easy to use. It requires small length of cable to connect computers. It is less expensive. It is easy to extend a bus.It allow more computers to join network. If one node(or computer) fails,it does not affect the whole network. Disadvantages:- It is diffiult to troubleshoot. The network speed slows down as the number of computers increases. Star Topology All computers in star topology are connected with central device called hub.Small LANs with less than eight nodes usually need only one hub. Larger networks can require many hubs and hubs can be connected to each other to tie all the nodes together nto a single network. Working:- The sending computer sends the data to hub.The hub sends data to the receiving computer.Each computer in star network communicate with a central hub.Star topology is mostly used in client-server network. Advantages:- It is easy to maintain and modify network. Adding and removing computers can be done without disturbing the network. Finding faults becomes very easy. Single computer failure does not bring down the whole network. It is more flexible than other topologies. Disadvantages:- If central hub fails,the entire network breaks down. It reguires a large length of cable to connect computers. It is more expensive. Ring Topology In ring topology each computer is connected to the next computer with the last one connected to the first one. Thus , a ring of computers is formed.
Conceptally,a ring is like a hub with its two ends brought
together. In other words,a ring is like a circular bus,to all nodes ae directly attached. Working:- Every computer is connected to next computer in a ring. The communication is possible in network by message (token) passing. Each computer receives message from the previous computer and transmits it to the next computer. The message flows in one direction.The message is passed around the ring until it reaches the correct destination computers. Advantages:- It is less expensive than star topology. Every computer has equal access to the network. Disadvantages:- Failure of one computer in the ring can affect the whole network. It is difficult to troubleshoot. Adding or removing computers affect the whole network. Mesh Topology Working:- In a mesh topology , every device in the network is physically connected to every other device in a network. A message can be sent on different possible paths from source to destination. Mesh topology provides improved performance and reliability. Mesh networks are not used much in local area networks. It is mostly used in wide area networks. Advantages:- The use of dedicated link guarantees that each connection can carry its own data load.It eliminates the traffic problem. If one link becomes unusable,it does not harm the entire system. It is easy to troubleshoot. Disadvantages:- A full mesh network can be very expensive. It is difficult to install and reconfigure. Tree Topology Working:- A tree topology combines the characteristics of bus and star topologies. It consists of different groups of computers attached in star topology. The groups are then connected to a bus backbone cable. Tree topology is used or the expansion of an existing system. Advantages:- It provide point-to-point wiring for individual segmants. It is supported by several hardware and software vedors. Disadvantages:- Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling used. If the backbone line breaks,the entire segment goes down. It is more difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.