TEJ2O1: Networking

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
WHAT IS A TOPOLOGY?

A network topology is the pattern of links connecting pairs of nodes of a

network.

A node is a device that is connected as part of a computer network.

A given node has one or more links to others, and the links can appear in a
variety of different
shapes.

1. Go to the following website and watch the videos that illustrate how 3
topologies work: http://www.teachict.com/gcse_new/networks/topologies/theory_topologies.htm
2. Compare the three topologies by researching some advantages and
disadvantages of each of them. You may have to use some other
resources to find some of this information.
Network Topology

Advantage

Bus
Sketch & Label a Bus
Network

Ring
Sketch & Label a Ring

Disadvantage

It is easy to set-up and extend

bus network.
Cable length required for this
topology is the least compared
to other networks.
Bus topology costs less.
Linear Bus network is mostly
used in small networks. Good
for LAN.

This type of network topology is

very organized. Also in ring
topology all the traffic flows in
only one direction at very high
speed.
Even when the load on the

There is a limit on central

cable length and number of
nodes that can be
connected.
Entire network shuts down if
there is a break in the main
cable.

Each packet of data must

pass through all the
computers between source
and destination. This makes
it slower than Star topology.
If one workstation or port

TEJ2O1: Networking
network increases, its
performance is better than that
of Bus topology.

Network

Star
Sketch & Label a Star
Network

Easy to connect new nodes or

devices. In star topology new
nodes can be added easily
without affecting rest of the
network. Similarly components
can also be removed easily.
Failure of one node or link
doesnt affect the rest of
network. At the same time its
easy to detect the failure and fix
it.

goes down, the entire

network gets affected.

The problem with star

network topology is the fact
that it is highly dependent on
the functioning of the central
hub.
The size of the network is
dependent on how many
connections can be made to
the hub.

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NETWORKING HARDWARE
Computer networks can also be classified according to the hardware and software
technology that is used to interconnect the individual devices in the network, such as
Twisted Pair (Ethernet), Optical fiber and Wireless LAN. Ethernet uses physical
wiring to connect devices. Frequently used devices include hubs, switches, bridges
and/or routers. Wireless LAN technology is designed to connect devices without
wiring. These devices use radio waves or infrared signals as a transmission medium.

MAKING THE CONNECTION

To connect workstations various methods are used. The most common types of
network cabling are:

1. Twisted Pair Cable

This is the most common type of network cabling. Within the cable are 4
pairs of twisted wires. The twists are used to reduce electrical
interference (the more the better). The most often used type is CAT5
which can handle data transmissions up to 1000Mbps. Maximum
distance: 100m

2. Fibre-optic Cable
Data is transmitted along very thin fibres of glass using pulses of light.
It can carry data over longer distances than twisted pair or coaxial cable
(up to 20km). It is not affected by electrical interference. It is expensive
to purchase and install. Transmission speed is 1-10Gbps (higher speeds
can be obtained using bundled cables).

3. Wireless (Wi-Fi)
Uses radio transmissions. Indoor range is approximately 30-70m. Can be used in
places wires may be difficult or impossible to run. More susceptible to signal loss
than a physical cable.

DIRECTING NETWORK TRAFFIC

In order for your network to function, it needs to be able to pass information from
node to node. Ideally, this would be done as efficiently as possible.
Hubs
Hubs are network devices which connect multiple computers together
making them act as a single segment. A segment is a collection of
computers which belong to the same IP network. Hubs are unintelligent
and do not mange network traffic.

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Switches
Switches are also network connectivity devices which connect network
segments. Switches are more intelligent than hubs in that they only
forward data to the destination port(s)/computer(s), whereas hubs
broadcast data to all ports/computers. This results in less network traffic than
hubs

Routers
Routers are the backbone of the Internet. They connect networks
together, such as the Internet (network of networks) which is the
largest network in the world. Routers are sophisticated devices
which make many decisions, such as the path which data will
follow from source to destination across networks. Their primary
function is to route data across networks.
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Interface cards provide the connection between a network and the computer
Wireless Router/Switch
Capable of sending signal everywhere inside a house or building

TEJ2O1: Networking

NETWORK HARDWARE RESEARCH

Part 1: Google the following network hardware items:
O Router
O Switch
O Bridge
O Repeater
O Hub
O Modem
O Server
O Client
O WNIC
O Create a dictionary including a definition and image
O Use the table below as your template
Template and Example:
Name
NIC

Definition

Image

Network Interface Card. A computer

circuit board or card that is installed
in a computer so that it can be
connected to a network.

*unfortunately this website does not work on our school network, but you can try
this at home!
PART 2 Create your own network! Gliffy is a wonderful FREE tool that allows you to create
diagrams (webpage layout, software design, network configurations, flow charts, etc).
Instructions:
1. Go to http://www.gliffy.com/
2. Select Start Drawing!
3. Under categories select Network diagram software
SAMPLE
4. Using the tool palette you see on your left,
create a new home network that includes the
following, with labels:
a. Router
b. Wireless
c. Xbox
d. Netflix
e. TV with Ethernet
f. Laptop (wireless)
g. Smartphone (wireless)
h. Desktop
i. Item of your choice
5. Save your file by selecting file\export as
jpeg (if you dont want to create your own
account, you can simply use Windows Snipping Tool (located in your Start menu) to take a snapshot of
your network).

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NETWORKING EQUIPMENT: HUBS, SWITCHES AND ROUTERS

a) Hubs
With a hub, data is passed along or "broadcast" to every one of its ports. It doesn't
matter that the data is only destined for one port. The hub has no way of
distinguishing which port a frame should be sent to. Passing it along to every port
ensures that it will reach its intended destination. This places a lot of traffic on the
network and can lead to poor network response times.
Additionally, a hub must share its bandwidth with each and every one of its ports. So
when only one PC is broadcasting, it will have access to the maximum available
bandwidth. If, however, multiple PCs are broadcasting, then that bandwidth will need
to be divided among all of those systems, which will degrade performance.

b) Switches
A switch, however, keeps a record of the MAC addresses of all the devices connected
to it. With this information, a switch can identify which system is sitting on which
port. So when a frame is received, it knows exactly which port to send it to, without
significantly increasing network response times.
Also, unlike a hub, a switch will allocate full bandwidth to each of its ports. So
regardless of the number of PCs transmitting, users will always have access to the
maximum amount of bandwidth. It's for these reasons why a switch is considered to
be a much better choice then a hub.

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c) Routers

Routers are like super-smart switches, with a bit more functionality. A router has its own IP
address and it typically functions as a gateway, a place where two or more networks connect
(i.e. where your internal home network connects to the Internet). You can actually connect
to your router though the Internet and configure it if you really know what youre doing.
Routers can also determine the best path for forwarding the data packets and routers have
the ability to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two
hosts.
Today, a wide variety of services are integrated into most broadband routers. Some
important ones include a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, Domain
Name Service (DNS), proxy server and a HARDWARE FIREWALL to protect the LAN from
malicious intrusion from the Internet.

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