Data Communication and Computer Networks

INSY3071

Instructor: Tsegaye Berhanu

 Chapter 3

Network Types and Topologies

 Outline
➢LANs, MANs and WAN

➢Peer to peer versus Server based Networks

➢Overview of network topologies

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 Classification of Networks
Network can be classified:
 Based on Geographical Location
(coverage of the network).
 LAN- Local Area Network
 MAN- Metropolitan Area Network
 WAN- Wide Area Network
 Based on Centralized Network
 Dump terminal
 Intelligent terminal
 Based on the Role of computers
 Peer-to-peer (P2P) network
 Client/Server network
 Based on Network Topology
 Logical Topology
 Physical Topology
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 Based on geographical location
Network can be classified:
LAN: Local Area Network.

MAN: Metropolitan Area Network

WAN: Wide Area Network.

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 LAN - Local Area Networks
 LAN refers to networks that have small
geographical coverage usually within a building
or a campus.
 LANs are found in most organizations,
businesses, government offices, educational
institutions.
 A LAN is very useful for sharing resources,
such as data storage and printers.
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 LAN- Local Area Networks
 LANs can be built with relatively inexpensive
hardware, such as hubs, network adapters and
Ethernet cables.
 The smallest LAN may only use two computers,
while larger LANs can accommodate thousands of
computers.
 LANs are typically used for single sites where
people need to share resources among themselves
but not with the rest of the outside world.
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 LAN - Local Area Networks
 Think of an office building where everybody should be
able to access files on a central server or be able to
print a document to one or more central printers.
Those tasks should be easy for everybody working in
the same office, but you would not want somebody
just walking outside to be able to send a document to
the printer from their cell phone
 In addition to operating in a limited space, LANs are
also typically owned, controlled, and managed by a
single person or organization.
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 LAN devices
 The major LAN devices are:
 Network Interface Card (NIC)
 Network Cable
 Hub
 Switch
 Modem
 RJ-45

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 LAN

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 MAN- Metropolitan Area Network
 It is a network that transmits data and information over
citywide distance and at a greater speed than LAN.
 It consists of a computer network across an entire city.
 A MAN is larger than a LAN, which is typically limited to
a single building or site. Depending on the configuration,
this type of network can cover an area from several miles
to tens of miles.
 A MAN is often used to connect several LANs together to
form a bigger network.

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 MAN

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 WAN - Wide Area Network
 Wide area networks are networks that cover very large
geographical area such as a country or the whole world.
 WAN usually use combination of several types of
communication media such as cables, satellites, microwaves,
and fiber-optics.
 Because a WAN has no geographical limitations, it can connect
computers and other devices in separate cities or on opposite
sides of the world.
 A multinational corporation with linked computers in different
countries is using aWAN.

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 WAN - Wide Area Network
 A WAN can contain multiple smaller networks, such
as LANs or MANs.
 The Internet is the best-known example of a public
WAN.

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 Network Classification
Based on span of control computer networks can be
classified into two major grouped as either :
➢ Centralized
Dumb Terminals
Intelligent Terminals
➢ Distributed Network
Client/Server
Peer-to-Peer

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 Centralized Network
 Centralized network has one main CPU that processes
all information requests and handles communication.
 The main CPU in a centralized network is usually a
mainframe or minicomputer capable of handling the
processing workload of many people simultaneously.
 People interface with the host computer by using
terminals and other input and output devices.

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 Centralized Network
 A terminal is a hardware device consisting of a keyboard
and monitor.There are two types of terminals:
 Terminals that have no storage or processing capabilities
are called dumb terminals.
 Because dumb terminals do not have any processing
capabilities, they must be connected to a host computer
that can perform any processing functions necessary.
 Intelligent terminals, on the other hand, do have
limited storage and processing capabilities.

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 Distributed Networks
 Distributed network is a collection of workstations
connected to each other, along with various shared
storage and input and output devices (for example,
scanners and printers).
 In a distributed network each workstation can handle
some, if not all, of its own processing.
 Workstations in a distributed network also maintain
local information and software.

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 Distributed Network
 Distributed Network can be either:
 Client/Server network
 Peer-to-Peer network
 The type of network you choose to implement
depends on Size of the organization
 Level of security required
 Level of administrative support available
 Amount of network traffic
 Network budget

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 Peer to Peer Network
 In a peer-to-peer network, workstations are
connected to each other and do not rely on a server
for global software and data, data processing tasks, or
communication within the network.
 Basically, a peer-to-peer network consists of many
workstations connected together that can share
resources and communicate with each other.
 Each workstation can serve as a client at one time
and serves as server at another time and all the
computers are at the same level.
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 Peer to Peer Network

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 Client/Server Network
 A Client/Server network is a distributed network in
which many workstations (called Clients) are
connected to a central host computer (called the
Server).
 The clients are the workstations in a Client/Server
network that maintain local software and information
and do as much of the processing as possible.

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 Client/Server Network

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 Specialized Servers
 Servers must perform varied and complex tasks.
Servers for large networks have become specialized to
accommodate the expanding needs of users. types of
servers included on many large networks.
 File Servers
 Print Servers
 Database Servers
 Application Servers
 Mail Servers
 Web Servers
 Proxy Server
24 Compiled by: Tsegaye B. 10/17/2019
 Types of Network Topologies

 Logical Topology

 Physical Topology

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 Logical Network Topologies
 Logical topologies are protocols
 Logical topology is bound to network protocols
and describe how data is moved across the network.
 Logical Topology is the method used to pass the
information between the computers.
 Connections to the Internet may use multiple
protocols.
 TCP/IP is a suite of protocols that work
together to transmit data.

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 Physical Network Topologies
 Physical topology is the mapping of the nodes of a
network and the physical connections between them –
i.e., the layout of wiring, cables, the locations of
nodes, and the interconnections between the nodes
and the cabling or wiring system.
 The physical topology of a network refers to the
configuration of cables, computers, and other
peripheral devices.

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 Physical Topologies
Main types of physical topologies used in
networks are:
 Bus
 Ring
 Star
 Mesh
 Hybrid

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 Bus Topology
 Bus networks use a common backbone to connect
all devices.
 In the bus network topology, every workstation or
computer/server is connected to a main cable
called the bus.
 A device wanting to communicate with another
device on the network sends a broadcast message
onto the wire that all other devices see, but only the
intended recipient actually accepts and processes
the message.
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 Bus Topology
 Bus networks work best with a limited number of
devices.
 If more than a few dozen computers are added to a
network bus, performance problems will result.
 In addition, if the backbone cable fails, the entire
network effectively becomes unusable.
 A signal from the source travels in both directions to
all machines connected on the bus cable until it finds
the intended recipient.
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 Bus Topology
 If the machine address does not match the intended
address for the data, the machine ignores the data.
Alternatively, if the data matches the machine address, the
data is accepted.
 Since the bus topology consists of only one wire, it is
rather inexpensive to implement when compared to other
topologies.
 However, the low cost of implementing the technology is
offset by the high cost of managing the network.
 Additionally, since only one cable is utilized, it can be the
single point of failure.
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 Bus Topology

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Advantages of a Bus Topology

 Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear

bus.
 Requires less cable length than a star topology.

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 Disadvantages of a 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.

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 Star Topology
 A star topology is designed with each node file server,
workstations, and peripherals connected directly (point to
point) to a central device. This device can be network hub
or switch.
 Point to point means there exists a point to point/direct
connection between hosts and the central device.
 Data on a star network passes through the hub, switch,
before continuing to its destination.
 The hub/switch manages and controls all functions of the
network. It also acts as a repeater for the data flow.
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 Star Topology

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 Advantages of a Star Topology
 Easy to install and wire.
 No disruptions to the network when connecting or
removing devices.
 Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

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Disadvantages of a Star Topology
 Requires more cable length than a linear topology.
 If the hub, switch, or concentrator fails, nodes
attached are disabled.
 More expensive than linear bus topologies because
of the cost of the hubs, etc.

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 Ring Topology
 A network topology that is set up in a circular fashion in which
data travels around the ring in one direction and each device
on the ring acts as a repeater to keep the signal strong as it
travels.
 In a ring network, every device has exactly two neighbors for
communication purposes.
 All messages travel through a ring in the same direction (either
"clockwise" or "counterclockwise").
 A failure in any cable or device breaks the loop and can take
down the entire network.
 Ring topologies are found in some office buildings or school
campuses
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 Ring Topology
 The workstations are connected in a closed loop
configuration.
 Adjacent pairs of workstations are directly connected.
 Other pairs of workstations are indirectly connected,
the data passing through one or more intermediate
nodes

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 Ring Topology
 Each device incorporates a receiver for the incoming
signal and a transmitter to send the data on to the next
device in the ring.
 The network is dependent on the ability of the signal to
travel around the ring. When a device sends data, it must
travel through each device on the ring until it reaches its
destination.
 Every node is a critical link.
 In a ring topology, there is no server computer present;
all nodes work as a server and repeat the signal.
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 Ring Topology

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 Mesh Topology
 The mesh network topology employs either of two
schemes, called full mesh and partial mesh.
 In the full mesh topology, each workstation is
connected (point to point connection) directly to
each of the others.
 In the partial mesh topology, some workstations are
connected to all the others, and some are connected
only to those other nodes with which they exchange
the most data.
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 Mesh Topology
 Unlike each of the previous topologies, messages
sent on a mesh network can take any of several
possible paths from source to destination.
 It is extremely impractical for large networks

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 Advantage and disadvantage of
a Mesh Topology
Advantage
 Improves Fault Tolerance
Disadvantage
▪ The most Expensive
▪ Difficult to install
▪ Difficult to manage
▪ Difficult to troubleshoot

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 Hybrid Topology Types

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