LAN TOPOLOGY

PHYSICAL TOPOLOGY

Topology/physical topology refers to the way network is laid out physically. The actual
layout of the wire or media that connects together all the participating devices on a network.

There are various LAN topologies;

1. Ring topology
2. Star topology
3. Bus topology
4. Mesh topology
5. Extended Star topology
6. Hybrid topology

RING TOPOLOGY
In ring topology, each device has a dedicated point to point connection with only the two
devices on either side of it. A signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device to
device, until it reaches its destination. The second directional flow can be accessed incase of
failure of one node.

Advantages of ring topology

 Simple to install
 Data transmission is very fast.
 Even when one connection is done the network will work.
 Work stations can be added without impacting performance on the network.
 Better performance than bus topology under heavy network load.
 No server needed to manage and control the network.

Disadvantages of ring topology

 A single malfunction of workstation or port can create problems for the entire
network.
 Moves, adds and changes of devices can affect the network.

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  Much slower than an ethernet network under normal load because of circular data
movement.
STAR TOPOLOGY
In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point to point link only to a central
controller, usually called a hub. The hub acts as interchange device.
If a device wants to send data to another, it sends the data to a controller, then to
other connected devices.

Hub/swither

Advantages of star topology

 Less expensive than mesh topology.
 Easy to install and configure because of direct link to I/O port to connect it to a
number of devices.
 Less cabling-Addition and deletion involves only one connection between the device
and the hub.
 Easy for fault identification and isolation-If one link fails, it is the only link failed and
others remain active.

Disadvantages of star topology

 Faulty hub/switch brings down the whole network.
 Cost of hub makes the network expensive to install.

BUS TOPOLOGY
Server

Back bone cable

Terminator connector(s)

terminator
Printer

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Advantages of bus topology
 Independence of stations from each other.
 Failure of one work station on the network does not affect others.
 Easy to install.
 Low installation costs.
 Easy to add devices on the network.
 Great for small networks

Disadvantages of bus topology

 Outdated technology
 Can be difficult to troubleshoot.
 Unsuitable for large networks.
 If backbone breaks, the whole network shuts.
 Difficult reconnection and fault isolation.
 Terminators at the end increase the cost.
 Adding new nodes/devices shuts down network users.
 Increasing users causes network congestion.

MESH TOPOLOGY
Each device has a point to point link to every other device on the network.(dedicated point
to point link)

Advantages of mesh topology

 Data traffic problems are eliminated by a point to point link connection.
 If one link becomes unusable it does not in capacitate the entire system.
 Guarantees privacy and security.
 Point to point link makes fault identification and isolation easy.
 Adding new devices does not interrupt with data transmission.

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Disadvantages of mesh topology
 The sheer bulk of wiring may not fit in the space available on the walls.
 Costly to provide redundant cables.
 High maintainace cost.
 Difficult to install.

EXTENDED STAR TOPOLOGY

This is a star network with additional networking device connected to the main networking
device.

hub
hub hub

Central Hub

hub

Advantages Extended Star topology

 Better performance compared to bus topology.
 Ease of adding devices as network expansion is possible.
 One node failure do not bring down entire network.
 Easy to remove nodes.
 Easy to find device and cable issues.
 Most widely used so support is easily available.

Disadvantages of Extended star topology

 Require more wires to connect all nodes to central hub.
 Failure of central hub brings down the whole network.
 Increased nodes connection will decrease performance of central hub and this cause
congestion.
 High cost of installation.

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HYBRID TOPOLOGY
This is a type of network topology in which two or more different topologies are integrated
or combined to layout a network. It may
consist of star, bus, ring or mesh.

Advantages of Hybrid topology

 Reliable-Its easy to detect fault and troubleshoot.
 Scalable-Easy to increase by adding new components.
 Effective-It maximizes the strengths and minimizes the weaknesses of each topology.
 Flexible in that can be designed according to organization requirements.
 Handles large volumes of data traffic.
 Faster speed of data transmission experience.

Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

 Expensive design requiring a lot of lengthy cables.
 Very complex design.
 Costly hubs to connect two different topologies.
 Difficult installation.

Factors to consider when choosing a network topology

 Cost of configuration
 Hardware resources
 Ease of implementation
 Size of network infrastructure
 Reliability of the topology
 Future expansion

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2. METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK (MAN)
This is a computer network that connects computers within a metropolitan area, which
could be a single city, multiple cities or towns. Approximate 50kms radius. MAN is larger
in size than LAN.

Advantages of Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

High Bandwidth Capacity – A MAN provides high bandwidth capacity, which means it
can transfer a lot of data quickly and efficiently.

Cost-effective – A MAN is typically less expensive than a WAN and can be a cost-effective
solution for organizations that need to connect their offices and buildings in a specific
location.

Secure – A MAN is a secure network that can protect your data from unauthorized access.
This is especially important for organizations that deal with sensitive information.

Scalable – A MAN is scalable, which means it can grow with your organization. As your
organization grows and expands, a MAN can easily accommodate the increased demand
for connectivity.

Improved Collaboration – A MAN can improve collaboration among employees and

departments by providing a central network for sharing information and resources. This can
lead to increased productivity and efficiency.

Disadvantages of Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

High Cost – Setting up a MAN can be a very expensive process. You need to invest in
expensive hardware and software, and you also need to hire qualified professionals to set it
up and maintain it. This can be a significant barrier for many organizations, especially
smaller ones.

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Security Risks – Because MANs are larger and more complex than Local Area Networks
(LANs), they are also more vulnerable to security breaches. Cybercriminals can use a
variety of techniques to gain access to the network and steal sensitive information. This is
why it’s essential to invest in robust security measures to protect your MAN.

Technical Complexity – MANs are much more complex than LANs, which means that
they require more technical expertise to set up and maintain. This can be a challenge for
smaller organizations that don’t have the resources to hire qualified IT professionals. It can
also lead to more downtime and maintenance issues.

Limited Access – Because MANs are designed to cover a specific geographic area, they can
be limiting in terms of access. If you need to access resources outside of this area, you may
need to set up additional networks or rely on other solutions. This can be time-consuming
and costly.

Reliability Issues – MANs can also suffer from reliability issues, especially in areas with
poor infrastructure. Power outages, hardware failures, and other issues can cause downtime
and disrupt your operations. This is why it’s essential to have backup systems in place to
ensure that your network stays up and running.

3. WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)

This is the network that covers large geographical area comprising of a region, country, a
continent(s) or even whole world. Examples of WAN are 4G and 5G Mobile network, the
Internet.

Features of WAN
a. Have large capacity.
b. Facilitate sharing of regional resources.
c. Provides uplinks for connecting LANs to MANs to internet.
d. Communication links are provided by telephone networks, network providers and
satellites.
e. Low data transfer rates.

SEE DIAGRAM ON PAGE 8

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 LAN
LAN

LAN LAN

Diagram showing MAN network

Advantages of WAN
i. Increase efficiency
ii. Easy of communication
iii. Large network cover
iv. Share information over the large area
v. Message can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network
vi. It supports the global market and global business
vii. Centralized IT infrastructure
viii. Boost your privacy

Disadvantages of WAN
i. It is slow in speed
ii. It is complicated and complex
iii. It is difficult to maintain the network
iv. It is very costly because we have to pay every time for transferring data
v. WAN is a big and complex problem
vi. Very much dependent on the third party because it is a public network
vii. WAN is not secure and means not reliable
viii. Security problem
ix. Training cost
x. Maintenance problem
xi. Require high-performance device

4. PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (PAN)

PAN is a computer network for interconnecting electronic devices within an individual’s
persons workspace. PAN provides data transmission among devices such as computers,
smart phones, tablets, wrists watches and personal digital assistants.

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Advantages of PAN
i. A PAN can be very convenient and easy to set up. No wires are required. The
connecting devices in a PAN only require Bluetooth to be enabled, which eliminates
the need for extra wires. This also eradicates the need for cable management and
wasted floor space, making it a highly cost-effective network.

ii. Reliable and secure. A PAN network ensures a reliable and stable connection if it's
established within the 10-meter range.

iii. Easy data synchronization. A PAN provides easy data synchronization between
different devices. As an example, all devices connected within a PAN can be used to
exchange, download and upload data with each other.

iv. Portability. A PAN provides extreme portability, as it's wireless, and users can
transport devices and exchange data wherever they want.

Disadvantages of PANs

i. Short network range and slow data transfer. A PAN uses Bluetooth
communication that doesn't span beyond the 10-meter range. This makes long-
distance data sharing difficult and slows down the rate of data transfers.

ii. Signal interference. The Bluetooth and IrDA rays used for transmission in a PAN
can cause interference with radio signals, which can severely interrupt and degrade
the quality of communication between devices.

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iii. Cost. Using a PAN can be expensive, as most built-in WPAN devices are costly.
Also, most devices used for creating a PAN have a higher price tag, such as
smartphones and laptops.

Other networks
-INTRANET
Intranet is a private network contained within an enterprise that is used to securely share
company information and computing resources among employees. Intranets encourage
communication within an organization.

Uses of intranet
i. Share organizational updates.
ii. Store files.
iii. Connect employees.
iv. Collaboration with teams across the borders.
v. Increase productivity.
vi. Gives employees voice of the organization.

Adavantages of intranets /Benefits of intranets

i. Access to organizational data and files any time anywhere.
ii. Increased internal communication
iii. Connects employees.
iv. Increases employee productivity.
v. Enhances collaboration
vi. Stores securely documents.Boosts employee’s recognition and rewards.
vii. Encourages knowledge sharing.

Disadvantages of intranet
i. Security breach
ii. Information overload
iii. Difficult implementation and adoption process.
iv. Costly and time consuming.
v. Requires continual updates and software issues.

EXTRANET
An extranet is a private network similar to intranet, but typically open to extra parties such
as business partners, suppliers, customers, government agencies etc.

Advantages/ Benefits of extranet

i. Increased efficiency
ii. Improved collaboration and knowledge sharing.
iii. Enhanced communication and engagement.

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Disadvantages of using extranets
i. Expensive to set and maintain.
ii. Insecurity due to unauthorized users.

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