Computer Networks

Lecture 03
 Previous Lecture

• Features Of Computer network

• Transmission modes
• Computer Network Architecture
• Components Of Computer Network
 Network Topology
What is Network Topology?
• Topology defines the structure of the network of how all the components are
interconnected to each other. There are two types of topology: physical and logical
topology.
Types of Network Topology
• Physical topology is the geometric representation of all the nodes in a network.
There are six types of network topology which are Bus Topology, Ring Topology,
Tree Topology, Star Topology, Mesh Topology, and Hybrid Topology.
Bus Topology
 Bus Topology
• 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.
• 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 bus topology is mainly used in 802.3 (ethernet) and 802.4 standard networks.
• 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).
 Bus Topology
Advantages of Bus 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.
• Moderate data speeds: Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based
networks that support upto 10 Mbps.
• 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.
 Bus Topology
Disadvantages of Bus topology:
• Extensive cabling: A bus topology is quite simpler, but still it requires a lot of cabling.
• Dependency: If any fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication
for all the nodes.
• 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.
• Attenuation: Attenuation is a loss of signal leads to communication issues. Repeaters
are used to regenerate the signal.
Ring Topology
 Ring Topology
• 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.
• 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
 Ring Topology
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.
 Ring Topology
Advantages of Ring topology:
• Network Management: Faulty devices can be removed from the network without
bringing the network down.
• Product availability: Many hardware and software tools for network operation and
monitoring are available.
• Cost: Twisted pair cabling is inexpensive and easily available. Therefore, the
installation cost is very low.
• Reliable: It is a more reliable network because the communication system is not
dependent on the single host computer.
 Ring Topology
Disadvantages of Ring topology:
• 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.
• Failure: The breakdown in one station leads to the failure of the overall network.
• 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.
 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.
• The central computer is known as a server, and the peripheral devices attached to
the server are known as clients.
• Coaxial cable or RJ-45 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.
 Star Topology
Advantages of Star topology
• 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.
• Network control: Complex network control features can be easily implemented in the star
topology. Any changes made in the star topology are automatically accommodated.
• 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
 Star Topology
Advantages of Star topology
• 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.
• Cost effective: Star topology networks are cost-effective as it uses inexpensive
coaxial cable.
• High data speeds: It supports a bandwidth of approx 100Mbps. Ethernet
100BaseT is one of the most popular Star topology networks.
 Star Topology
• Disadvantages of Star topology
• A Central point of failure: If the central hub or switch goes down, then all
the connected nodes will not be able to communicate with each other.
• Cable: Sometimes cable routing becomes difficult when a significant amount
of routing is required.
Tree topology
 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.
Mesh topology
 Mesh topology
• 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
• 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:
Number of cables = (n*(n-1))/2;
• Where n is the number of nodes that represents the network.
 Mesh topology
• Mesh topology is divided into two categories:
 Mesh topology
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: Adding new devices would not disrupt the
communication between other devices.
 Mesh topology
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.
• 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.
Hybrid Topology
 Computer Network Models

• Layered Architecture
 OSI Model
• OSI stands for Open System Interconnection is a reference model that describes how
information from a software application in one computer moves through a physical medium
to the software application in another computer.
• OSI consists of seven layers, and each layer performs a particular network function.
• OSI model was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in
1984, and it is now considered as an architectural model for the inter-computer
communications.
• OSI model divides the whole task into seven smaller and manageable tasks. Each layer is
assigned a particular task.
• Each layer is self-contained, so that task assigned to each layer can be performed
independently.
OSI Model
 OSI Model
The OSI model is divided into two layers: upper layers and lower layers.
• The upper layer of the OSI model mainly deals with the application related issues,
and they are implemented only in the software. The application layer is closest to the
end user. Both the end user and the application layer interact with the software
applications. An upper layer refers to the layer just above another layer.
• The lower layer of the OSI model deals with the data transport issues. The data link
layer and the physical layer are implemented in hardware and software. The physical
layer is the lowest layer of the OSI model and is closest to the physical medium. The
physical layer is mainly responsible for placing the information on the physical
medium
OSI Model
 TCP/IP model
• The TCP/IP model was developed prior to the OSI model.
• The TCP/IP model is not exactly similar to the OSI model.
• The TCP/IP model consists of five layers: the application layer, transport
layer, network layer, data link layer and physical layer
• TCP/IP is a hierarchical protocol made up of interactive modules, and each
of them provides specific functionality.
Functions of TCP/IP layers:
Thank you
Questions ??