Contents

Description of network
Description of topology
Different types of topology
Their advantages and disadvantages

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Need for networking

Computer networks help users on the network to share the resources
and in communication. Can you imagine a world now without
emails, online newspapers, blogs, chat and the other services
offered by the internet?
The following are the important benefits of a computer network.
File sharing: Networking of computers helps the users to share
data files.
Hardware sharing: Users can share devices such as printers,
scanners, CD-ROM drives, hard drives etc.
Application sharing: Applications can be shared over the network,
and this allows to implement client/server applications
User communication: Networks allow users to communicate using
e-mail, newsgroups, and video conferencing etc.
Network gaming: A lot of network games are available, which allow
multi-users to play from different locations.
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Network
In information technology, a network is a series of points or
nodes interconnected by communication paths. Networks can
interconnect with other networks and contain sub networks.

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TOPOLOGY
A Network Topology is the way computer systems or network
equipment connected to each other. Topology defines the physical
and logical arrangements of links in a network.

Two or more devices connect to a link, two or more link from a

topology.

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In this diagram every system has its separate link to each other device.

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TYPES OF TOPOLOGY

TOPOLOGY

MESH TOPOLOGY

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STAR TOPOLOGY

TREE TOPOLOGY

network topology

BUS TOPOLOGY

RING TOPOLOGY

Mesh Topology
In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point
link of devices.

And the word dedicated means that link carries traffic only
between two devices it connects.

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A fully connected mesh network therefore has n(n-1)/2 physical

channels to link n devices.
Every device has (n-1) connection in mesh topology.

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Advantages of Mesh Topology

Dedicated links eliminating the traffic problem.
A mesh topology is robust.
Every system has its own privacy and security.
Point-to-Point make fault identification and isolation is easy.
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Disadvantages of mesh
topology
It is more expensive due to use of more cables.
No proper utilization of systems.
It needs more space or ceiling for dedicated links.

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STAR TOPOLOGY
A star topology has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a
central controller, called hub.

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The hub acts as an exchange between the devices.

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Advantages of star topology

A star topology is less expensive than mesh topology.
Addition ,deletion and moving of the devices is easy.
Star topology includes robustness.

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Disadvantages of star topology

Cabling is required in a star.
All devices depends upon the central hub.

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TREE TOPOLOGY
A tree topology is a variation of star.
Tree is also linked to a central hub that controls the
traffic to the network.

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The central hub in tree is an active hub & second hub may b active or
passive hub.
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Advantages of tree topology

The addition of secondary hub is easy.
It allows the network to isolate and prioritize communication
between different computers.
Time sensitive data will not have to wait for access to the
network.

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Disadvantages of tree topology

It is more expensive due to cabling.
Increase the distance of the signals
Repeating strengthens transmissions.
The whole connection is depend upon hub , if hub stop its
working than the whole network stop the work.
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Bus topology

A bus topology is a multipoint topology. one long cable acts

as a backbone to link all the devices in the network.
Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines or taps.

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There is a limit on the number of taps .

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Advantages of bus topology

In bus topology, backbone can be laid along the most efficient
path.
The redundancy is eliminated.
Each drop line has to reach only as far as nearest point of the
backbone.
Limited number of taps.
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Disadvantages of bus topology

Include difficult reconfigurations and fault isolation.
It can be difficult to attach a new device.
Signal reflection at the tap can cause degradation in quality.
A fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission.

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Ring topology

A ring topology has a dedicated point-to-point line

configuration only with the two devices on either side of it.

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A signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device to

device.
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Advantages of ring topology

Easy to install and reconfigure.
Add or delete a device require moving only two connections.
Fault isolation is simplified.
Signal is circulating at all times.
An alarm alerts the network operator to the problem and its
location.
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Disadvantages of ring topology

Unidirectional traffic.
A break in ring can disable the entire network.

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Considerations When Choosing a Topology

Money. A linear bus network may be the least
expensive way to install a network; you do not
have to purchase concentrators.
Length of cable needed. The linear bus network
uses shorter lengths of cable.
Future growth. With a star topology, expanding a
network is easily done by adding another
concentrator.
Cable type. The most common cable in schools
is unshielded twisted pair, which is most often
used with star topologies.

Computer Network Types

Generally, networks are distinguished
based on their geographical span. A
network can be as small as distance
between your mobile phone and its
Bluetooth headphone and as large as the
Internet itself, covering the whole
geographical world, i.e. the Earth.

 Personal Area Network

A Personal Area Network or simply PAN, is smallest
network which is very personal to a user.
This may include Bluetooth enabled devices or
infra-red enabled devices.
PAN has connectivity range up to 10 meters.
PAN may include wireless computer keyboard and
mouse, Bluetooth enabled headphones, wireless
printers and TV remotes for example.

 Local Area Network

A computer network spanned inside a building and
operated under single administrative system is
generally termed as Local Area Network.
Usually, Local Area Network covers an
organizations offices, schools, college/universities
etc. Number of systems may vary from as least as
two to as much as 16 million
LAN provides a useful way of sharing resources
between end users. Resources like Printers, File
Servers, Scanners and internet is easy sharable
among computers.

LAN

 Metropolitan Area Network

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that
interconnects users with computer resources in a
geographic area or region larger than that covered by
even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller
than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN).
covering an area of a few city blocks to the area of an
entire city, possibly also including the surrounding
areas.
Backbone of MAN is high-capacity and high-speed
fiber optics

For example, MAN can help an organization

to connect all of its offices in a City.

MAN

 Wide Area Network

As name suggests, this network covers a wide area
which may span across provinces and even a whole
country.
Generally, telecommunication networks are Wide
Area Network. These networks provides
connectivity to MANs and LANs.
Equipped with very high speed backbone, WAN
uses very expensive network equipment.

WAN

Application of Computer Networks

1. Email programs:- They allow users to type messages at their local nodes and then send to
someone on the network. It is a fast and easy way of transferring mail from one computer to
another.
File transfer protocol (FTP):- This application facilities transfer of files from one computer to
another e.g. from a client to a server. There are 2 common processes involved in FTP

Downloading: - This is the process of obtaining files from a server to a

workstation or a client (for example when you download programs and music
from a server).
Uploading:- This is obtaining of files from a workstation to a server (for instance
when you attach documents and upload them to a server, a good example being
when you upload photos to Facebook).

Application of Computer Networks

Terminal emulation (TELNET)

It allows a workstation to access the server for an application program. This enables you to
control the server and communicate with other servers on the network. The workstation appears
as a down terminal that is directly attached to the server. The user feels like he/she is using the
server directly. TELNET enables PCs and workstations to function as dumb terminals in
sessions with hosts on inter-networks.
Groupware :- These applications are used to automate the administration functions of a
modern office for instance video conferencing and chatting. They facilitate the work of groups
and improve on their productivity; they can be used to communicate, co-operate, coordinate,
solve problems, compete, negotiate among others.
(i) Video Conferencing This is the process of conducting a conference between two or more
participants at different sites by using computer networks to transmit audio and video data.

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