Information Technology B-Bce114 Unit Four

B-BCE114 INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
1. Dashboard
2. My courses
3. B-BCE114 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
4. UNIT 4 DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING
5. UNIT 4 Lesson
UNIT 4 Lesson
Table of contents
 1. INTRODUCTION
 2. NETWORK TOPOLOGY
 3. NETWORKS
1. INTRODUCTION
Computer communication and networking are the means of making two or more computers
interact and work together to complete a given task. Computer communication and networking is
made possible through the use of telephone lines that are connected to the system using wires
and cords and/or through electromagnetic waves. According to Provan (2018) a computer
network comprises of more than one computer which are joined in order for them to share
resources such as printers, scanners and fax machines which exchange files or allow electronic
communication.
TYPES OF COMPUTER CONNECTIONS
Computers can be connected physically using two methods, either through point-to-
point and multiple point connections.
(a) Point-to-point connection is a connection of two computers that allows them to

communicate with each other directly using network interface cords. This kind of connection is
also called a store-and-forward or packet-switch network. In this type of connection, each
computer also known as a node, is responsible for its own data formatting and connection.
(b) Multiple connection is a physical connection which allows more than two nodes to interact
in the network. In this kind of connection, one node is assigned as the primary
station or mainframe as it oversees the activities of the other nodes which are in this case called
the secondary stations. According to Provan (2018), the primary stations can request for
information from the secondary stations at any given time and the secondary stations will
respond. Interconnection of the secondary stations can only be done when they are permitted by
the primary stations.
In this type of connection, two secondary stations cannot send information or data at the same
time, it is always one at a time. This type of connection is also called the multidrop connection.
2. NETWORK TOPOLOGY
The word topology is used to refer to the physical layout of a given network. It defines how
computers/nodes and other network devices are arranged within a network system, there
are many types of topologies and among them are; tree topology, bus topology, ring
topology, mesh topology and hybrid topology.
(a) Tree topology is also known as hierarchical topology. A tree topology comprises of one
central station that is considered as the most powerful computer in the network while after
nodes are connected to it in a hierarchical manner. The tree topology’s central node is
connected to some secondary nodes which are directly under its command. The secondary
nodes are also connected to the nodes that are below them. A tree topology is presented in
the figure below:
Source: Slideplayer, 2020
(b) Bus topology is a connection where all nodes are connected to the network via a drop
line. Computers are connected using a truck or backbone to which all computers are
connected to a network.
Advantage: bus topology is easy to implement.
Disadvantage: the bus network topology can be easily disrupted when one node is not
working, removed or added.
(c) Star topology is a network where all nodes on the system use a single cable to connect
to a central device which is referred to as a hub. The other nodes on the system cannot
connect to one another except through the hub. Once the hub develops a fault, the entire
system is disrupted, the star topology is also called a multiple reporter.
Advantage: it is easily able to isolate any problem from the nodes.
Disadvantage: it needs a lot of cables on the network.

(d) Ring topology comprises of all computers being connected to each other directly in a
circular manner. Information is passed from one node to another using what is called
a token. In this set up, information moves in one direction in a circle.
Advantages: all the nodes in the ring topology have access to the network and
performance is the same on all the machines.
Disadvantage: one computer failure can affect the entire systems operation.
(e) Mesh topology is the arrangement of computers in such a way that each node has a
dedicated point-to-point link with every other node or device on the network. In other
words, each node is connected to every device on the network and all share data among
themselves.
Advantages: failure of one node one node on the network does not affect the rest of the
network
Disadvantages: it requires more space and more cables to properly operate a mesh
topology.
(f) Hybrid topology comprises of a combination of two or more topologies presented
above. An example of a hybrid topology is a combination of a bus and star topology.
Advantage: they enable much flexibility as they can be arranged in a desired manner.
Disadvantage: they are very complex and not easy to set up.
3. NETWORKS
Computers in any given type of topology require a network in order for them to share and
disseminate information. There are basically three types of networks that are used
depending on the nature of a given topology. These networks are LAN, MAN and WAN.
(a) Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of network devices which allow the
communication between connected devices. This type of network is privately owned and
covers a small area such as a single building such as a house or business building.
(b) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network connection that covers a much larger
area as compared to LAN. MAN can connect a lot more computers and devices within a
given city or even cities apart. MAN is mostly owned by organizations and is more expensive
to install and use than LAN.
(c) Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that covers the largest are as compared to
LAN and MAN. WAN can be used to connect computers and other devices on a network in
a given country or throughout the continent. WAN is the most expensive type of network as
it is very expensive to install and maintain. WAN is mostly owned by a group of
organizations.

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B-BCE114 INTRODUCTION TO

3. B-BCE114 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

4. UNIT 4 DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING

(a) Point-to-point connection is a connection of two computers that allows them to

Source: Slideplayer, 2020

Advantage: it is easily able to isolate any problem from the nodes.

Disadvantage: it needs a lot of cables on the network.

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