Topology

Types of Network Topology

Network Topology is the schematic description of a network arrangement,
connecting various nodes(sender and receiver) through lines of connection.

BUS Topology
Bus topology is a network type in which every computer and network device is
connected to single cable. When it has exactly two endpoints, then it is
called Linear Bus topology.

Features of Bus Topology

1. It transmits data only in one direction.
2. Every device is connected to a single cable
Advantages of Bus Topology
1. It is cost effective.
2. Cable required is least compared to other network topology.
3. Used in small networks.
4. It is easy to understand.
5. Easy to expand joining two cables together.

Disadvantages of Bus Topology

1. Cables fails then whole network fails.
2. If network traffic is heavy or nodes are more the performance of the network
decreases.
3. Cable has a limited length.
4. It is slower than the ring topology.
RING Topology
It is called ring topology because it forms a ring as each computer is connected
to another computer, with the last one connected to the first. Exactly two
neighbours for each device.

Features of Ring Topology

1. A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with large number of nodes,
because if someone wants to send some data to the last node in the ring
topology with 100 nodes, then the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to
reach the 100th node. Hence to prevent data loss repeaters are used in the
network.
2. The transmission is unidirectional, but it can be made bidirectional by
having 2 connections between each Network Node, it is called Dual Ring
Topology.
3. In Dual Ring Topology, two ring networks are formed, and data flow is in
opposite direction in them. Also, if one ring fails, the second ring can act
as a backup, to keep the network up.
4. Data is transferred in a sequential manner that is bit by bit. Data
transmitted, has to pass through each node of the network, till the
destination node.

Advantages of Ring Topology

1. Transmitting network is not affected by high traffic or by adding more nodes,
as only the nodes having tokens can transmit data.
2. Cheap to install and expand

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1. Troubleshooting is difficult in ring topology.
2. Adding or deleting the computers disturbs the network activity.
3. Failure of one computer disturbs the whole network.
STAR Topology
In this type of topology all the computers are connected to a single hub through
a cable. This hub is the central node and all others nodes are connected to the
central node.

Features of Star Topology

1. Every node has its own dedicated connection to the hub.

2. Hub acts as a repeater for data flow.
3. Can be used with twisted pair, Optical Fibre or coaxial cable.

Advantages of Star Topology

1. Fast performance with few nodes and low network traffic.

2. Hub can be upgraded easily.
3. Easy to troubleshoot.
4. Easy to setup and modify.
5. Only that node is affected which has failed, rest of the nodes can work
smoothly.

Disadvantages of Star Topology

1. Cost of installation is high.

2. Expensive to use.
3. If the hub fails then the whole network is stopped because all the nodes
depend on the hub.
4. Performance is based on the hub that is it depends on its capacity

MESH Topology
It is a point-to-point connection to other nodes or devices. All the network
nodes are connected to each other. Mesh has n(n-1)/2 physical channels to
link n devices.
There are two techniques to transmit data over the Mesh topology, they are :

1. Routing
2. Flooding

Routing
In routing, the nodes have a routing logic, as per the network requirements. Like
routing logic to direct the data to reach the destination using the shortest
distance. Or, routing logic which has information about the broken links, and it
avoids those node etc. We can even have routing logic, to re-configure the failed
nodes.

Flooding
In flooding, the same data is transmitted to all the network nodes, hence no
routing logic is required. The network is robust, and the its very unlikely to
lose the data. But it leads to unwanted load over the network.

Types of Mesh Topology

1. Partial Mesh Topology : In this topology some of the systems are connected in
the same fashion as mesh topology but some devices are only connected to two
or three devices.
2. Full Mesh Topology : Each and every nodes or devices are connected to each
other.
Features of Mesh Topology
1. Fully connected.
2. Robust.
3. Not flexible.
Advantages of Mesh Topology
1. Each connection can carry its own data load.
2. It is robust.
3. Fault is diagnosed easily.
4. Provides security and privacy.
Disadvantages of Mesh Topology
1. Installation and configuration is difficult.
2. Cabling cost is more.
3. Bulk wiring is required.

TREE Topology
It has a root node and all other nodes are connected to it forming a hierarchy.
It is also called hierarchical topology. It should at least have three levels to
the hierarchy.

Features of Tree Topology

1. Ideal if workstations are located in groups.
2. Used in Wide Area Network.
Advantages of Tree Topology
1. Extension of bus and star topologies.
2. Expansion of nodes is possible and easy.
3. Easily managed and maintained.
4. Error detection is easily done.
Disadvantages of Tree Topology
1. Heavily cabled.
2. Costly.
3. If more nodes are added maintenance is difficult.
4. Central hub fails, network fails.

HYBRID Topology
It is two different types of topologies which is a mixture of two or more
topologies. For example if in an office in one department ring topology is used
and in another star topology is used, connecting these topologies will result in
Hybrid Topology (ring topology and star topology).

Features of Hybrid Topology

1. It is a combination of two or topologies
2. Inherits the advantages and disadvantages of the topologies included
Advantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Reliable as Error detecting and trouble shooting is easy.
2. Effective.
3. Scalable as size can be increased easily.
4. Flexible.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Complex in design.
2. Costly.
 Topologies Comparison

Change in
performance Problems to
Performancewit Ease of setting up
with many Ease of Cost of the network
h few nodes or and
opology nodes or troubleshooting(compared installation(compared caused by
low network modifying(compared
high to other topologies) to other topologies) cable or
traffic to other topologies)
network node failure
traffic
Failure of the
bus cable
causes total
Easy to set up and
Medium Most affected Fairly easy Low failure.
modify
Failure of a
node has no
affect.
Cable or
node failure
Easy to set up but
Slow Least affected Hard High causes total
harder to modify
network
failure.
Cable or
node failure
Some affect only affects
but the that node.
switch/hub Easy to set up and Failure of the
Fast Easy High
can be modify hub/switch or
upgraded the server
easily causes total
network
failure.

Considerations When Choosing a Topology:

 Money.
A linear bus network may be the least expensive way to install
anetwork; you do not have to purchase concentrators.

Length of cable needed .

The linear bus network uses shorter lengths ofcable.

Future growth.
With a star topology, expanding a network is easily doneby
adding another concentrator.•Cable type. The most common cable in schools
 is unshielded twisted pair,which is most often used with star

topologies .
Imagine that you have been asked to choose a new network for an organisation. The
table below gives a summary of some of the factors that you will need to be consider .

Factor Comment

You will need to find out the section of the economy in which
the organisation operates, the goods or services that it
The organisation
provides, how many people are employed and their job
functions.

When there is an existing network it may be possible to use

some or all of the existing network components in the new
Existing systems system. You will need to find out about the existing network
architecture, the topology, the network components, the
transmission media and the network operating system.

You will need to know how many user will be working on the
Number of users network. Some users will have their own workstation, other
workstations will be shared by users.

For example, you will need to find out if the network is to be

connected to the Internet and if centrally located network
Functionality printers are required. You will also need to discover the
tasks that network users will undertake and the software
applications that they will use to carry out their tasks.

You will need to discuss the type of information that will be

exchanged over the network and the expectations of network
Performance users for the time taken to obtain the information and the
files that they require over the network. This will help you
to determine the bandwidth that is required.

You will need to discuss the security precautions that must be

taken to back-up data stored on the network, prevent
Security
unauthorised access to the network and to prevent malicious
attacks on the network.

A large organisation will be able to employ a Network Manager

Maintenance to maintain the network. A smaller organisation may choose to
enter into a remote maintenance contract with onsite visits.
 You will need to determine the budget that is available to
Budget implement the network and ensure that it is adequate to cover
all of the work that is required.

Switching-

Aim of Data Communication and Networking is to facilitate the exchange of

data such as audio, text or video between various points in the world. This
transfer of data takes place over the computer network over which the data
travels smoothly. For the delivery of data or information with the ease of
accuracy various types of Switching Techniques are employed in the Data
Communication and Networking. Here in this post brief description of various
types of Switching Techniques including Packet Switching, Message Switching
and Circuit Switching techniques is given.

Switching

A network consists of many switching devices. In order to connect multiple

devices, one solution could be to have a point to point connection in between
pair of devices. But this increases the number of connection. The other
solution could be to have a central device and connect every device to each
other via the central device which is generally known as Star Topology. Both
these methods are wasteful and impractical for very large network. The other
topology also can not be used at this stage. Hence a better solution for this
situation is SWITCHING. A switched network is made up of a series of
interconnected nodes called switches.

Types of Switching Techniques

There are basically three types of switching methods are made available. Out
of three methods, circuit switching and packet switching are commonly used
but the message switching has been opposed out in the general communication
procedure but is still used in the networking application.

1) Circuit Switching
2) Packet Switching
3) Message Switching
 Circuit Switching

Circuit Switching is generally used in the public networks. It come into

existence for handling voice traffic in addition to digital data. How ever
digital data handling by the use of circuit switching methods are proved to
be inefficient. The network for Circuit Switching is shown in figure.

Circuit Switching Network

 Here the network connection allows the electrical current and the associated
voice with it to flow in between the two respective users. The end to end
communication was established during the duration of call.
 In circuit switching the routing decision is made when the path is set up
across the given network. After the link has been sets in between the sender
and the receiver then the information is forwarded continuously over the
provided link.
 In Circuit Switching a dedicated link/path is established across the sender
and the receiver which is maintained for the entire duration of conversation.
 Packet Switching

In Packet Switching, messages are broken up into packets and each of which
includes a header with source, destination and intermediate node address
information. Individual Packets in packet switching technique take different
routes to reach their respective destination. Independent routing of packets
is done in this case for following reasons:

1. Bandwidth is reduces by the splitting of data onto different routes for a

busy circuit.
2. For a certain link in the network, the link goes down during transmission the
the remaining packet can be sent through the another route.
3.

Packet Switching Network

 The major advantage of Packet switching is that they they are used for
performing data rate conversion.
 When traversing the network switches, routers or the other network nodes then
the packets are buffered in the queue, resulting in variable delay and
throughput depending on the network’s capacity and the traffic load on
network.
 Packet switching contrasts with another principal networking paradigm,
circuit switching, a method which sets up a limited number of dedicated
connections of constant bit rate and constant delay between nodes for
exclusive use during the communication session.
 In cases where traffic fees are charged, for example in cellular
communication, packet switching is characterized by a fee per unit of
information transmitted.
 Message Switching

In case of Message Switching it is not necessary to established a dedicated

path in between any two communication devices. Here each message is treated
as an independent unit and includes its own destination source address by its
own. Each complete message is then transmitted from one device to another
through internetwork.

Message Switching Data Network

 Each intermediate device receive the message and store it until the nest
device is ready to receive it and then this message is forwarded to the next
device. For this reason a message switching network is sometimes called as
Store and Forward Switching.
 Message switches can be programmed with the information about the most
efficient route as well as information regarding to the near switches that
can be used for forwarding the present message to their required destination.
 The storing and Forwarding introduces the concept of delay. For this reasons
this switching is not recommended for real time applications like voice and
video.
Comparison of switching techniques:-