M.

S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

WHAT IS TOPOLOGY

There are three basic network topologies (not counting variations thereon): the bus, the star,
and the ring.

It is important to make a distinction between a topology and architecture. A topology is troubled

with the physical arrangement of the network components. In difference, architecture addresses
the components themselves and how a system is prepared (cable access methods, lower level
protocols, topology, etc.). An example of architecture is 10baseT Ethernet which typically uses
the start topology.

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

BUS TOPOLOGY

This topology is probably the cheapest network type of all too firstly setup, as only one cable is
used the installation is somewhat simple and cheap.

The problems can come when trying to add a device to an open Bus topology network. To add a
device requires physically linking it to the open backbone, which can turn out to be a main job.

Another concern if using a bus topology for a network is error acceptance, or the need of it. This
type of network transfers data by passing messages through the same cable, so a break in any
part of the cable will bring the whole network down.

Each device will check to see if the message is planned for them, the device to which the data is
addressed will copy the contents to its network card's onboard RAM, and process it accordingly.

Advantages of Bus Topology

 Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear bus.

 Requires less cable length than a star topology.
 Failure of one station does not affect others
 Well suited for temporary networks that must be set up in a hurry

Disadvantages of Bus Topology

 Entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.

 Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable.
 Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
 Not meant to be used as a stand-alone solution in a large building.

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

MESH TOPOLOGY

In a mesh topology, each device/PC is connected to every other device/PC in the network by its
own cable which means huge amounts of cables for any large network.

The Mesh topology provides error acceptance by having separate cables for each connection,
allowing any one cable to break without snooping with the rest of the network.

Unfortunately, because each connection needs its own cable, a Mesh topology can get very
expensive.

Every time you add a client to a mesh network you have to run cables to each of the other
devices.

Advantages of Mesh Topology

 System provides increased redundancy and reliability as well as ease of troubleshooting.

 Data transfer is faster.
 Addition & deletion of node is easy.

Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

 The arrangement where in every network node is connected to every other node of the
network, many of the connections serve no major purpose. This leads to the joblessness
of many of the network connections.
 System is expensive to install because it uses a lot of cabling.

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

RING TOPOLOGY

The physical ring topology is not often used these days, a Ring topology networks the devices
by connecting each device to its two neighboring devices.

Data is passed one way from device to device, error acceptance in a physical ring topology is
unreal, and if one device/cable fails then the whole network goes down.

Adding a new device to an existing physical Ring network can be complicated, as any new
device needs to go in between the existing devices.

Advantages of Ring Topology

 Growth of system has minimal impact on performance.

 All stations have equal access.
 The network doesn`t fail even when a link between two nodes is broken.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

 The failure of a single node of the network can cause the entire network to fail.
 The movement or changes made to network nodes affects the performance of the entire
network.
 Most expensive topology.
 Failure of one computer may impact others.

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

STAR TOPOLOGY

A physical Star topology connects the devices using a centralized unit, such as a Hub or Switch.

A Star topology gives great error acceptance, as any device/cable failure will not affect the rest
of the network (unless the centralizing device or server fails).

Physically adding new devices to a Star network is very simple compared to any of the other
topologies, you simply run a cable from the new device to the hub/switch.

Star topologies are very common, especially in Ethernet networks also, they are commonly
mixed with one of the other topologies to create a hybrid topology.

Advantages of Star Topology

 Due to its centralized nature, the topology offers ease of operation.

 It also achieves a remoteness of each device in the network.
 Easy to install and wire.
 No disruptions to the network then connecting or removing devices.
 Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.

Disadvantages of Star Topology

 The network operation depends on the functioning of the central hub. Hence, the failure
of the central hub leads to the failure of the entire network.
 Requires more cable length than a linear topology.
 If the hub or concentrator fails, nodes attached are disabled.
 More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of the concentrators.

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

HYBRID TOPOLOGY

Hybrid network is the grouping of different topologies such as star, Ring, Mesh, Bus etc. For
example, if a department uses a Bus network, second department uses the ring network, third
department uses the Mesh network and fourth department uses the star network. All the
networks of different types can be connected together through a central hub (in the form of star
network).

Advantages of Hybrid Topology

 It is extremely flexible.
 It is very reliable.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology

 Expensive

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

TREE TOPOLOGY

On tree topology the hubs of each star topology are connected to the central hub that controls
the entire network. However, some nodes can be directly connected to the central hub.
The central Hub in the tree network is an active hub. It contains a repeater (a hardware device),
which re-generates the received bit patterns. The secondary hubs usually are passive hubs.
The passive hub controls the nodes directly connected to it and exchange data to other devices
connected to the other secondary hubs (or same hub) through the central hub. The secondary
hub may also be active hub if another secondary hub is directly connected to it.

Advantages of Tree Topology

 A Tree Topology is supported by many network vendors and even hardware vendors.
 A point to point connection is possible with Tree Networks.
 All the computers have access to the larger and their immediate networks.
 Best topology for branched out networks.

Disadvantages of Tree Topology

 In a Network Topology the length of the network depends on the type of cable that is
being used.
 The Tree Topology network is fully charge on the trunk which is the main backbone of
the network. If that has to fail then the entire network would fail.
 Since the Tree Topology network is big it is difficult to configure and can get complicated
after a certain point.

SELECTED NETWORK TOPOLOGY

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 M.S Raza Mohamed [NETWORK TECHNOLOGY]

I have chosen STAR TOPOLOGY as the topology for this company network. In a star topology
their want be many problems occurring and it’s easy to connect each client PC’s. In the
company main problem is the printer because the printer is only with the manager, so the users
need a Floppy Drive or a Flash Drive to transfer the file to manager PC and the users and the
manager need to spend more time on printing pages. In this company less number of PC’s
available so in future sometime they may be increasing the PC’s so in the Network topology
main good topology is STAR TOPOLOGY because they can add new PC’s easily and in other
topology adding new PC’s make problem when adding. But in star topology the components are
little bit expensive when buying the switch and others. When implementing the star topology we
can connect the printer to the network by plugging straightly into the switch so the users do not
need to disturb the manager or them self and they do not need any type of devices to transfer
file. They can manage from the network. And they will get the sharing resources.

So finally I suggest STAR TOPOLOGY is the good topology for the company.

NETWORK COMPONENTS USED FOR THE STAR TOPOLOGY

 A Switch or a Hub
 Cable length longer
 Network Card

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