COMPUTER NETWORK TOPOLOGY

What is a Network?

A network is a collection of servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals or other

devices to allow sharing of data. In short, it consists of two or more computers that are linked in
order to share resources, exchange files, or allow electronic communication. An example of a
network is the internet which connects millions of people all over the world. The computers on a
network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared beams.
The size and performance of a computer network depend on the requirements of the users but
the two main categories are as follows:
 LAN (local area network) that connects computers located within a confined
geographical
area, e.g. a single office, building or across a site.
 WAN (wide area network) that connects computers located nationwide or even around
the world.
LANs are now common in medium to large-sized organizations, such as banks, schools
and hospitals. There are many advantages in working on a network. It is easy to share files and
resources, send messages to one another (e-mails, see below) and to group work on specific tasks.
Software can be installed centrally from a server computer. Cost benefits include the ability to share
resources (e.g. printers and scanners).
LANs are able to use simple wire cables to connect over the relatively short distances
between computers. In contrast, WANs must rely on telecommunications links (e.g. fibre-optic
cables, satellite links) to cover the potentially vast distances involved. The increased
complexity is more than compensated for by the time and cost savings, compared with sending
hard copy information by traditional routes. Probably the most familiar example of a WAN is the
Internet.
Internet
By definition, the internet is a wide area network that allows computers around the world
run by companies, governments, universities and other users to communicate to one another, and
includes a mass of cables, computers, data centers, routers, servers, repeaters, satellites and Wi-Fi
instruments that allow digital information to travel around the world.

What is Topology?

Topology defines the structure of the network of how all the components are
interconnected to each other. In fact, a topology is the geometric representation of how the

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computers are connected to each other. There are two types of topology: physical and logical
topology. Physical topology is the geometric representation of all the nodes in a network. Thus,

A Network Topology is the arrangement with which computer systems or network

devices are connected to each other. Topologies may define both physical and logical aspect of
the network. Both logical and physical topologies could be same or different in a same network.

Types of Topology

There are five types of topology in computer networks:

 Mesh Topology

 Star Topology

 Bus Topology

 Ring Topology

 Hybrid Topology

Mesh Topology

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 In mesh topology, each device is connected to every other device on the network through
a dedicated point-to-point link. When we say dedicated it means that the link only carries data
for the two connected devices only. Let us say we have n devices in the network then each
device must be connected with (n-1) devices of the network. Number of links in a mesh topology
of n devices would be n(n-1)/2. Thus, Mesh technology is an arrangement of the network in
which computers are interconnected with each other through various redundant connections.

 There are multiple paths from one computer to another computer.

 It does not contain the switch, hub or any central computer which acts as a central point
of communication.

 The Internet is an example of the mesh topology.

 Mesh topology is mainly used for WAN implementations where communication failures
are a critical concern.

 Mesh topology is mainly used for wireless networks.

 Mesh topology can be formed by using the formula:

 Where n is the number of nodes that represents the network.

Mesh topology is divided into two categories:

Full Mesh Topology: In a full mesh topology, each computer is connected to all the
computers available in the network.

Partial Mesh Topology: In a partial mesh topology, not all but certain computers are
connected to those computers with which they communicate frequently.

Advantages of Mesh topology

Reliable

The mesh topology networks are very reliable as if any link breakdown will not affect the
communication between connected computers.

Fast Communication

Communication is very fast between the nodes.

Easier Reconfiguration

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 Adding new devices would not disrupt the communication between other devices.

No Data Traffic

No data traffic issues as there is a dedicated link between two devices which means the
link is only available for those two devices.

Security

Mesh topology is secure because there is a point to point link thus unauthorized access is
not possible.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

Cost

A mesh topology contains a large number of connected devices such as a router and more
transmission media than other topologies. Since each device needs to be connected with other
devices, number of ports required must be huge and relatively expensive.

Management

Mesh topology networks are very large and very difficult to maintain and manage. If the
network is not monitored carefully, then the communication link failure goes undetected.

Efficiency

In this topology, redundant connections are high that reduces the efficiency of the
network.

Wires Required

Amount of wires required to connected each system is tedious and headache.

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Star Topology

Star topology is an arrangement of the network in which every node is connected to the
central hub, switch or a central computer. In star topology, each device in the network is
connected to a central device called hub. Unlike Mesh topology, star topology does not allow
direct communication between devices, a device must have to communicate through hub. If one
device wants to send data to other device, it has to first send the data to hub and then the hub
transmits that data to the designated device.

 The central computer is known as a server, and the peripheral devices attached to the
server are known as clients.

 Coaxial cable cables are used to connect the computers.

 Hubs or Switches are mainly used as connection devices in a physical star topology.

 Star topology is the most popular topology in network implementation.

Advantages of Star topology

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  Less expensive because each device only need one port and needs to be connected with
hub with one link.

 Easier to install

 Less amount of cables required because each device needs to be connected with the hub
only.

 Limited failure: As each station is connected to the central hub with its own cable,
therefore failure in one cable will not affect the entire network.

 Efficient troubleshooting: Troubleshooting is quite efficient in a star topology as

compared to bus topology. In a bus topology, the manager has to inspect the kilometers
of cable. In a star topology, all the stations are connected to the centralized network.
Therefore, the network administrator has to go to the single station to troubleshoot the
problem. Thus, easy fault detection because the link can be easily identified.

 Network control: Complex network control features can be easily implemented in the
star topology. Any changes made in the star topology are automatically accommodated.

 Familiar technology: Star topology is a familiar technology as its tools are cost-effective.

 Easily expandable: It is easily expandable as new stations can be added to the open ports
on the hub.

Disadvantages of Star topology

 If hub goes down everything goes down, none of the devices can work without hub.

 Hub requires more resources and regular maintenance because it is the central system of
star topology.

 Cable: Sometimes cable routing becomes difficult when a significant amount of routing is
required.

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Bus Topology

In bus topology, there is a main cable and all the devices are connected to this main cable
through drop lines. There is a device called tap that connects the drop line to the main cable.
Since all the data is transmitted over the main cable, there is a limit of drop lines and the distance
a main cable can have.

The bus topology is designed in such a way that all the stations are connected through a
single cable known as a backbone cable.

 Each node is either connected to the backbone cable by drop cable or directly connected
to the backbone cable.

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  When a node wants to send a message over the network, it puts a message over the
network. All the stations available in the network will receive the message whether it has
been addressed or not.

 The configuration of a bus topology is quite simpler as compared to other topologies.

 The backbone cable is considered as a "single lane" through which the message is
broadcast to all the stations.

 The most common access method of the bus topologies is CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple
Access).

CSMA: It is a media access control used to control the data flow so that data integrity is
maintained, i.e., the packets do not get lost. There are two alternative ways of handling the
problems that occur when two nodes send the messages simultaneously.

CSMA CD: CSMA CD (Collision detection) is an access method used to detect the collision.
Once the collision is detected, the sender will stop transmitting the data. Therefore, it works on
"recovery after the collision".

CSMA CA: CSMA CA (Collision Avoidance) is an access method used to avoid the collision
by checking whether the transmission media is busy or not. If busy, then the sender waits until
the media becomes idle. This technique effectively reduces the possibility of the collision. It does
not work on "recovery after the collision".

Advantages of bus topology

 Easy installation, each cable needs to be connected with backbone cable.

 Less cables required than Mesh and star topology

 Low-cost cable: In bus topology, nodes are directly connected to the cable without
passing through a hub. Therefore, the initial cost of installation is low.

 Familiar technology: Bus topology is a familiar technology as the installation and

troubleshooting techniques are well known, and hardware components are easily
available.

 Limited failure: A failure in one node will not have any effect on other nodes.

Disadvantages of bus topology

 Difficultly in fault detection.

 Not scalable as there is a limit of how many nodes you can connect with backbone cable

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  Extensive cabling: A bus topology is quite simpler, but still it requires a lot of cabling.

 Signal interference: If two nodes send the messages simultaneously, then the signals of
both the nodes collide with each other.

 Reconfiguration difficult: Adding new devices to the network would slow down the
network.

Ring Topology

In ring topology, each device is connected with the two devices on either side of it. There
are two dedicated point to point links a device has with the devices on the either side of it. This
structure forms a ring thus it is known as ring topology. If a device wants to send data to another
device then it sends the data in one direction, each device in ring topology has a repeater, if the
received data is intended for other device then repeater forwards this data until the intended
device receives it.

 Ring topology is like a bus topology, but with connected ends.

 The node that receives the message from the previous computer will retransmit to the
next node.

 The data flows in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional.

 The data flows in a single loop continuously known as an endless loop.

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  It has no terminated ends, i.e., each node is connected to other node and having no
termination point.

 The data in a ring topology flow in a clockwise direction.

 The most common access method of the ring topology is token passing.

 Token passing: It is a network access method in which token is passed from one node to
another node. Token: It is a frame that circulates around the network.

Working of Token passing

 A token moves around the network, and it is passed from computer to computer until it
reaches the destination.

 The sender modifies the token by putting the address along with the data.

 The data is passed from one device to another device until the destination address
matches. Once the token received by the destination device, then it sends the
acknowledgment to the sender.

 In a ring topology, a token is used as a carrier.

Advantages of Ring Topology

 Easy to install. Twisted pair cabling is inexpensive and easily available. Therefore, the
installation cost is very low.

 Managing is easier as to add or remove a device from the topology only two links are
required to be changed. Faulty devices can be removed from the network without
bringing the network down.

 Many hardware and software tools for network operation and monitoring are available.

 Reliable: It is a more reliable network because the communication system is not

dependent on the single host computer.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

 A link failure can fail the entire network as the signal will not travel forward due to
failure. The breakdown in one station leads to the failure of the overall network.

 Data traffic issues, since all the data is circulating in a ring.

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  Difficult troubleshooting: It requires specialized test equipment to determine the cable
faults. If any fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication for all the
nodes.

 Reconfiguration difficult: Adding new devices to the network would slow down the
network.

 Delay: Communication delay is directly proportional to the number of nodes. Adding

new devices increases the communication delay.

Tree topology

Tree topology combines the characteristics of bus topology and star topology. A tree
topology is a type of structure in which all the computers are connected with each other in
hierarchical fashion.

 The top-most node in tree topology is known as a root node, and all other nodes are the
descendants of the root node.

 There is only one path exists between two nodes for the data transmission. Thus, it forms
a parent-child hierarchy.

Advantages of Tree topology

 Support for broadband transmission: Tree topology is mainly used to provide broadband
transmission, i.e., signals are sent over long distances without being attenuated.

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  Easily expandable: We can add the new device to the existing network. Therefore, we
can say that tree topology is easily expandable.

 Easily manageable: In tree topology, the whole network is divided into segments known
as star networks which can be easily managed and maintained.

 Error detection: Error detection and error correction are very easy in a tree topology.

 Limited failure: The breakdown in one station does not affect the entire network.

 Point-to-point wiring: It has point-to-point wiring for individual segments.

Disadvantages of Tree topology

 Difficult troubleshooting: If any fault occurs in the node, then it becomes difficult to
troubleshoot the problem.

 High cost: Devices required for broadband transmission are very costly.

 Failure: A tree topology mainly relies on main bus cable and failure in main bus cable
will damage the overall network.

 Reconfiguration difficult: If new devices are added, then it becomes difficult to

reconfigure.

Hybrid topology

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 A combination of two or more topologies is known as hybrid topology. For example a
combination of star and mesh topology is known as hybrid topology. A Hybrid topology is a
connection between different links and nodes to transfer the data.

When two or more different topologies are combined together is termed as Hybrid
topology and if similar topologies are connected with each other will not result in Hybrid
topology. For example, if there exist a ring topology in one branch of NFC bank and bus
topology in another branch of NFC bank, connecting these two topologies will result in Hybrid
topology.

Advantages of Hybrid topology

 Reliable: If a fault occurs in any part of the network will not affect the functioning of the
rest of the network.

 Scalable: Size of the network can be easily expanded by adding new devices without
affecting the functionality of the existing network.

 Flexible: This topology is very flexible as it can be designed according to the

requirements of the organization.

 Effective: Hybrid topology is very effective as it can be designed in such a way that the
strength of the network is maximized and weakness of the network is minimized.

Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

 Complex design: The major drawback of the Hybrid topology is the design of the Hybrid
network. It is very difficult to design the architecture of the Hybrid network.

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 Costly Hub: The Hubs used in the Hybrid topology are very expensive as these hubs are
different from usual Hubs used in other topologies.

 Costly infrastructure: The infrastructure cost is very high as a hybrid network requires a
lot of cabling, network devices, etc.

 Fault detection is difficult.

 Installation is difficult.

 Design is complex so maintenance is high thus expensive.

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