Lesson 2: Network Topology

II. Introduction

Network topology refers to how various nodes, devices, and connections

on your network are physically or logically arranged in relation to each other. Think of
your network as a city, and the topology as the road map. Just as there are many ways
to arrange and maintain a city—such as making sure the avenues and boulevards can
facilitate passage between the parts of town getting the most traffic—there are several
ways to arrange a network. Each has advantages and disadvantages and depending on
the needs of your company, certain arrangements can give you a greater degree of
connectivity and security.

III. Learning Objectives:

At the end of the module, you are expected to;

1. Discuss what is network topology.

2. Differentiate each model of network topology.
3. Differentiate logical and physical topology

IV. Learning Activities

A. Activity

Below are the illustrations of different types of network topology. Try to guess the
type of network topology the images represent. The possible answers are listed
below.

1. Bus Topology 3. Ring Topology

2. Star Topology 4. Mesh Topology

 5. Hybrid Topology

6. Tree Topology

B. Analysis

1. The above image represents the bus topology. What do you think will happen if the
main cable (red line) will break? Write your answer in the activity sheet provided.

Answer: The entire network will fail because the main cable was break, this main cable
is very important in the bus topology this is use one cable or a backbone to have a
connection of each computer.
2. The above image represents a star topology. What do you think will happen if the
switch (the device in the center) will malfunctioned? Write your answer in the space
provided.

Answer: If the switch or hub will malfunctioned all the computer on that central point
was affected and that was called a single

3. The above image represents a ring topology. What do you think will happen if one of
the nodes connected will fail or the cable the connected the devices together will break?
Write your answer in the activity sheet provided.

Answer: The data is reductive when there is an a cable failure or computer because ring
topology flows the data or nodes by each computer. Then if one failed the data will
failed to transfer.
4.The above image represents a tree topology. What will happen if the cable breaks or
the switch will fail? Do you think the computers can still connect to other computers?
Write your answer in the activity sheet provided.

Answer: Computers connected to the switch that fails can no longer access the network.
The Computer will not be connected if the switch will failed.

5.The above image represents a mesh topology. What do you think will happen if the
cable (red line) will malfunctioned? Will the network still work? Write your answer in the
space provided.

Answer: The computer can still connect to the network using the other lines which is not
affected.

C. Abstraction

What is Network Topology?

The Five Models of Network Topology

There are six models of network topology, the bus, star, ring, tree hybrid, and
mesh topology.

Bus Topology

A bus topology consists of a main run of cable with a terminator at each end. All
nodes like workstations, printers, laptops, servers, etc., are connected to the linear
cable. The terminator is used to absorb the signal when the signal reaches the end,
preventing signal bounce. When using bus topology, when a computer sends out a
signal, the signal travels the cable length in both directions from the sending computer.
When the signal reaches the end of the cable length, it bounces back and returns in the
direction it came from. This is known as signal bounce. Signal bounce may create
problems in the computer network because if another signal is sent on the cable at the
same time, the two signals will collide. Collisions in a computer network can drastically
reduce the performance of the computer network.

Advantages of Bus Topology

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

2. Requires less cable length than a star topology.
3. Works well for small networks.

Disadvantages of Bus Topology

1. The entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
 2. Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable.
3. Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
4. Not meant to be used as a stand-alone solution.

Star Topology

A star topology is designed with each node (like workstations, printers, laptops, servers,
etc.) connected directly to a central device called a network switch. Each workstation
has a cable that goes from its network interface card (NIC) to a network switch. Most
popular and most widely used LAN technology Ethernet operates in Star or Star-Bus
topology.

Advantages of Star Topology

1. Easy to install and wire

2. No disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices.
3. One malfunctioning node doesn't affect the rest of the network.
4. Easy to detect faults and to remove parts

Disadvantages of Star Topology

1. Requires more cable length than a linear bus topology.

2. If the connecting network device (network switch) fails, nodes attached are
disabled and cannot participate in computer network communication.
3. More expensive than bus topology because of the cost of the connecting devices
(network switches).
4. If the central computer fails, the entire network becomes unusable.

Ring Topology

In Ring Topology, all the nodes are connected in such a way that they make a
closed loop. Each workstation is connected to two other components on either side, and
it communicates with these two adjacent neighbors. Data travels around the network, in
one direction. Sending and receiving of data takes place by the help of TOKEN

Token Passing (in brief): Token contains a piece of information which along with data
is sent by the source computer. This token then passes to the next node, which checks
if the signal is intended to it. If yes, it receives it and passes the empty to into the
network, otherwise passes token along with the data to the next node. This process
continues until the signal reaches its intended destination. The nodes with token are the
ones only allowed to send data. Other nodes have to wait for an empty token to reach
them. This network is usually found in offices, schools, and small buildings.

Advantages of Ring Topology

1. This type of network topology is very organized. Each node gets to send the data
when it receives an empty token. This helps to reduce the chances of a collision.
Also in a ring topology, all the traffic flows in only one direction at a very high
speed.
2. Even when the load on the network increases, its performance is better than that
of Bus topology.
 3. There is no need for a network server to control the connectivity between
workstations.
4. Additional components do not affect the performance of the network.
5. Each computer has equal access to the resources.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1. Each packet of data must pass through all the computers between source and
destination. This makes it slower than Star topology.
2. If one workstation or port goes down, the entire network gets affected.
3. The network is highly dependent on the wire which connects different
components.
4. MAU’s and network cards are expensive as compared to Ethernet cards and
hubs.

Tree Topology

In tree topology, the devices are arranged in a tree fashion similar to the branches of a
tree. Devices at lower level are connected to devices at next higher level, which
resembles a tree like structure. At higher levels of the tree, often point-to-point or point-
to-multipoint connections are used.

Tree topology based networks has a hierarchical structure as shown in below image.
Structure of network in below image resembles an inverted tree.

Backbone Switch

Network failed Network failed

Network failed

Tree topology based networks are not suitable for small networks because of the
requirement for additional devices and cables.

Tree topology is suitable for large networks, spread into many branches. Example: Big
university campuses, hospitals etc.

Main disadvantage of tree topology is that the connectivity between tree branches are
dependent on main backbone switches. If there is no redundancy solution applied at
backbone switches, connectivity between branches will fail.
Advantages of Tree Topology

1. Tree topology is a good choice for large computer networks as the tree topology
"divides" the whole network into parts that are more easily manageable.

Disadvantages of Tree Topology

1. The entire network depends on a central cable and a failure of the central hub
can cripple the whole network.

Mesh Topology

In a mesh network, devices are connected with many redundant interconnections

between network nodes. In a true mesh topology, every node has a connection to every
other node in the network. There are two types of mesh topologies:

Two Types of Mesh topology

1. Full mesh topology occurs when every node has a circuit
connecting it to every other node in a network. Full mesh
is very expensive to implement but yields the greatest
amount of redundancy, so in the event that one of those
nodes fails, network traffic can be directed to any of the
other nodes. Full mesh is usually reserved for backbone
networks.
Advantages of full-mesh topology
• Since all devices are connected together, full-mesh topology has higher levels
of redundancy. If one path is failed, there is always an alternative path.
• There are multiple paths available in full-mesh topology. Data can be
transmitted simultaneously.
• Any maintenance work in network will not cause any disturbance for the devices
in full-mesh topology.
Disadvantages of full-mesh topology
• Implementation cost of full-mesh topology is very high.
• As the number of devices in the network increases, the complexity of network
will increase.
2. A partial-mesh topology is also a mesh topology similar to full-mesh topology.
In partial-mesh topology, all the devices are not connected to each other as
in full-mesh topology. In partial-mesh topology, some of the devices are
connected to many devices together, but other devices are connected only to
one or two devices. Partial-mesh topology is less complex than full-mesh
 topology, but less redundant than full-mesh topology. Implementation cost of
partial-mesh topology is less than full-mesh topology.

Hybrid Topology

Hybrid topology is a type of network topology, which is made of two or more different
topologies.

A hybrid network topology can be made of different network topologies. Hybrid

topologies are often made using combination of bus topology, star topology, mesh
topology (full-mesh topology or partial-mesh topology), ring topology or wireless
topology as per the requirement of the organization.

An example of hybrid topology is star-bus topology. Below image shows a star-bus

hybrid network topology.

Another example of hybrid topology is star-ring topology. Below image shows a star-ring
hybrid network topology.

Difference between Physical Topology and Logical Topology

A physical network topology diagram shows the structure of how devices are connected
physically inside a network. A logical network topology diagram shows the logical
method of communication used by the devices inside the network for network
communication. Physical topology specifies the layout how devices are physically
connected in the network. Instead, logical topology specifies the manner in which data
travels between devices in the network.

Physical topology shows how a network looks physically, but logical topology shows the
fashion in which data is circulated inside the network.

Examples of Logical Topology

Logical Bus topology – In Logical Bus topology, the data travels in a linear fashion in the
network similar to bus topology. When devices are connected inside a network using a
hub, the real physical network looks similar to star topology. When connected using a
hub, the network become shared media and data travels linearly (as in bus topology)
inside the shared medium.

D. Application

1. You are assigned as a network engineer in an office. The office has 10

computers that is needed to be network in order for them to share files and
resources. Your office did not provide a switch or hub and there is a high
possibility that they will get additional computers that is also needed to be
connected to the network. What do you think is the appropriate network topology
to be used given the situation? Explain your answer.

2. A company needs a very reliable and fast network, given the budget is not a
problem, what do you think is the best network topology to be used? Why?

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Encircle the letter of the correct
answer.

1. Which of the following network topologies contains a backbone which runs the
length of the network?
a. Bus Topology
b. Star Topology
c. Mesh Topology
d. Ring Topology
2. What piece of hardware is usually at the center of a star network?
a. Router
b. Modem
c. Switch
d. Computer

3. A combination of the bus and star topologies is called a:

a. Bus Topology
b. Tree Topology
c. Mesh Topology
d. Ring Topology

COM 1

COM 2
COM 5

SWITCH

COM 4
COM 3
4. Analyze the illustration above. If the link from the switch to Computer 2 is broken.
Which statement below is correct?

a. COM 1 can communicate with COM 2.

b. COM 2 can communicate with all computers except COM 1.

c. COM 1 can communicate with all computers except COM 2.

d. COM 2 can communicate with COM 1 only.

Computer 6 Computer 1

Computer 5 Computer 2

Computer 4 Computer 3
5. The above picture is an illustration of ring topology. Assuming that this ring topology
sends data in a clockwise direction. Which statement below is true about the above
network?

a. Computer 3 can send data to Computer 5.

b. Computer 1 can send data only to Computer 2, Computer 3, and
Computer 4.
c. Computer 5 can send data to all computers except Computer 4.
d. Computer 1 can send data to all computers except Computer 4.

6. Study the above illustration of Mesh Topology. The link from San Francisco to
Miami is broken and also from Los Angeles to Miami. Which statements are
correct about the network?
1. San Francisco can still communicate with Miami.
2. San Francisco and Miami cannot communicate with each other.
3. All other nodes cannot communicate with San Francisco, Miami, and Los
Angeles.
4. All nodes can communicate with all other nodes in the network.
 a. 1,2,3,4 b. 1 only
b. 123 d. 1 and 4

7. Please refer to the same illustration in question no. 6. If Miami will send data to
San Francisco, which is the shortest path the data will take to arrive at the
destination?
a. Miami – San Francisco c. Miami – Los Angeles – San Francisco
b. Miami – Detroit – San Francisco d. Miami – New York -Los Angeles –
San Francisco

8. Refer to the above picture. Which computer or node in the network will PC4 cannot
able to communicate.
a. PC 2 c. PC 0
b. PC 3 d. None

9. If the main cable fails in a bus topology, what will happen to the network?

a. All nodes will not be able to communicate with other nodes.

b. The computer will be able to communicate as long as there are terminators.

c. The computers can still communicate to the nearest computer.

d. The network will still function.

10. In star topology, if the switch fails, what will happen to the network?

a. Communication from one computer to another computer is still possible.

b. The computer can only communicate with the switch.

c. The computer can communicate with all other computers in the network.

d. The entire network will shut down.

Agreement

For the next module, please search about the OSI and TCP/IP reference model.
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