EL- 303

Computer Communication
Networks
Classification and
Topologies
How do we Classify Networks?
• A computer network can be classified into
different categories.
• Different criteria are used to classify computer
networks. Following are the criteria widely used.
• Geographical spread
• Topology
• Ownership
Categories of Computer Networks
• Local Area Networks (LAN).
• Global Area Networks (GAN).
• Personal Area Networks (PAN).
• Home Area Networks (HAN).
• Wide Area Networks (WAN).
• Campus Networks.
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN).
• Enterprise Private Networks.
• Internetworks.
• Backbone Networks (BBN).
• The internet.
 Categories of Computer Networks

• Local Area Networks (LAN)

A local area network or LAN is a network that connects
computers within a limited area. This might be in a school, an
office or even a home.
• Personal Area Networks (PAN)‍
A personal area network is a network that is based on an
individual's workspace. The individual's device is the center of
the network, with other devices connected to it. There are also
wireless personal area networks.
 Categories of Computer Networks

• Home Area Networks (HAN)

‍A home area network connects devices within a home
environment. It might include personal computers, tablets,
smartphones, printers, TVs and other devices.
• Wide Area Networks (WAN)
‍A wide area network is a network that covers a larger
geographical area, usually with a radius of more than a
kilometer.
Categories of Computer Networks
• Campus Networks
‍A campus network is a LAN or set of connected LANs which is used by
a government agency, university, corporation or similar organization
and is typically a network across a set of buildings that are close
together.
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
‍Metropolitan area networks are networks that stretch across a region
the size of a metropolitan area. A MAN is a series of connected LANs
in a city, which might also connect to a WAN.
Categories of Computer Networks
• Enterprise Private Networks
‍An enterprise private network is used by a company to connect its
various sites so that the different locations can share resources.
• Internetworks
‍Internetworks connect different networks together to build a larger
network. Internetworking is often used to describe building a large,
global network.
Categories of Computer Networks
• Backbone Networks (BBN)
‍A backbone is a part of a network that connects different pieces and
provides a path for information to be exchanged.
• Global Area Networks (GAN)
‍A global area network is a worldwide network that connects networks
all over the globe, such as the internet.
Topologies
Network Topology
• Network Topology refers to layout of a network. How different nodes
in a network are connected to each other and how they communicate
is determined by the network's topology.
Network Topology
• Two main types of networking topologies are 1) Physical topology 2)
Logical topology
• Physical topology:
• This type of network is an actual layout of the computer cables and
other network devices
• Logical topology is the arrangement of devices on a computer
network and how they communicate with one another.
• Logical topologies describe how signals act on the network
Consideration
• 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.
Point to Point

• Point-to-point topology is the easiest of all the network topologies. In

this method, the network consists of a direct link between two
computers.
Point to Point
• Advantages:
• This is faster and highly reliable than other types of connections since there is a direct
connection.
• No need for a network operating system
• Does not need an expensive server as individual workstations are used to access the files
• No need for any dedicated network technicians because each user sets their permissions
• Disadvantages:
• The biggest drawback is that it only be used for small areas where computers are in close
proximity.
• You can't back up files and folders centrally
• There is no security besides the permissions. Users often do not require to log onto their
workstations.
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.
Bus
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.
Disadvantages of Bus topology:

• Extensive cabling: A bus topology is quite simpler, but still it requires a lot
of cabling.
• 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.
• 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 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.
Token
• 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.
Ring
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
TOKEN RING
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 relia
DUAL RING
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
Star
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.
• 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.
• 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.
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 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.
Tree
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.
• 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.
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 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:
• Fully connected mesh topology
• Partially connected mesh topology
• 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.
MESH
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.
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
• Hybrid topology combines two or more topologies.
Hybrid
HYBRID
Hybrid

• Advantages:
• Offers the easiest method for error detecting and troubleshooting
• Highly effective and flexible networking topology
• It is scalable so you can increase your network size
• Disadvantages:
• The design of hybrid topology is complex
• It is one of the costliest processes