REPORT

ON

TOPOLOGY IN COMPUTER
NETWORKING

MADE BY

SRESTHA PATTANAYAK

ROLL- 35000321027
DEPT- ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING
SEM- 6TH
SUB CODE
SUB- COMPUTER NETWORKING
INTRODUCTION
A network topology is the physical and logical arrangement of nodes and
connections in a network. Nodes usually include devices such as switches,
routers and software with switch and router features. Network topologies are
often represented as a graph.
In Computer Network ,there are various ways through which different
components are connected to one another. Network Topology is the way that
defines the structure, and how these components are connected to each other.
Types of Network Topology
The arrangement of a network that comprises nodes and connecting lines via
sender and receiver is referred to as Network Topology. The various network
topologies are:
 Point to Point Topology
 Mesh Topology
 Star Topology
 Bus Topology
 Ring Topology
 Tree Topology
 Hybrid Topology

Point to Point Topology

Point-to-Point Topology is a type of topology that works on the functionality
of the sender and receiver. It is the simplest communication between two
nodes, in which one is the sender and the other one is the receiver. Point-to-
Point provides high bandwidth.
Mesh Topology
In a mesh topology, every device is connected to
another device via a particular channel. In Mesh
Topology, the protocols used are AHCP (Ad Hoc
Configuration Protocols), DHCP (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol), etc

o Mesh technology is an arrangement of the network in which computers

are interconnected with each other through various redundant
connections.
 o There are multiple paths from one computer to another computer.
o It does not contain the switch, hub or any central computer which acts as
a central point of communication.
o The Internet is an example of the mesh topology.
o Mesh topology is mainly used for WAN implementations where
communication failures are a critical concern.
o Mesh topology is mainly used for wireless networks.
o 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
Advantages of Mesh Topology
 Communication is very fast between the nodes.
 Mesh Topology is robust.
 The fault is diagnosed easily. Data is reliable because data is transferred
among the devices through dedicated channels or links.
 Provides security and privacy.
Drawbacks of Mesh Topology
 Installation and configuration are difficult.
 The cost of cables is high as bulk wiring is required, hence suitable for
less number of devices.
 The cost of maintenance is high.
A common example of mesh topology is the internet backbone, where various
internet service providers are connected to each other via dedicated channels.
This topology is also used in military communication systems and aircraft
navigation systems.

Star Topology
In Star Topology, all the devices are connected to a single hub through a cable.
This hub is the central node and all other nodes are connected to the central
node. The hub can be passive in nature i.e., not an intelligent hub such as
broadcasting devices, at the same time the hub can be intelligent known as an
active hub. Active hubs have repeaters in them. Coaxial cables or RJ-45 cables
are used to connect the computers. In Star Topology, many popular Ethernet
LAN protocols are used as CD(Collision Detection), CSMA (Carrier Sense
Multiple Access), etc.
o Star topology is an arrangement of the network in which every node is
connected to the central hub, switch or a central computer.
o The central computer is known as a server, and the peripheral devices
attached to the server are known as clients.
o Coaxial cable or RJ-45 cables are used to connect the computers.
o Hubs or Switches are mainly used as connection devices in a physical
star topology.

Advantages of Star Topology

 If N devices are connected to each other in a star topology, then the
number of cables required to connect them is N. So, it is easy to set up.
 Each device requires only 1 port i.e. to connect to the hub, therefore the
total number of ports required is N.
 It is Robust. If one link fails only that link will affect and not other than
that.
  Easy to fault identification and fault isolation.
 Star topology is cost-effective as it uses inexpensive coaxial cable.
Drawbacks of Star Topology
 If the concentrator (hub) on which the whole topology relies fails, the
whole system will crash down.
 The cost of installation is high.
 Performance is based on the single concentrator i.e. hub.
A common example of star topology is a local area network (LAN) in an office
where all computers are connected to a central hub. This topology is also used
in wireless networks where all devices are connected to a wireless access point.

Bus Topology
Bus Topology is a network type in which every computer and network device is
connected to a single cable. It is bi-directional. It is a multi-point connection
and a non-robust topology because if the backbone fails the topology crashes.
In Bus Topology, various MAC (Media Access Control) protocols are followed by
LAN ethernet connections like TDMA, Pure Aloha, CDMA, Slotted Aloha, etc.
o The bus topology is designed in such a way that all the stations are
connected through a single cable known as a backbone cable.
o Each node is either connected to the backbone cable by drop cable or
directly connected to the backbone cable.
o 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.
o The bus topology is mainly used in 802.3 (ethernet) and 802.4 standard
networks.
Advantages of Bus Topology
 If N devices are connected to each other in a bus topology, then the
number of cables required to connect them is 1, known as backbone
cable, and N drop lines are required.
 Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based networks
that support up to 10 Mbps.
 The cost of the cable is less compared to other topologies, but it is used
to build small networks.
 Bus topology is familiar technology as installation and troubleshooting
techniques are well known.
 CSMA is the most common method for this type of topology.
Drawbacks of Bus Topology
 A bus topology is quite simpler, but still, it requires a lot of cabling.
 If the common cable fails, then the whole system will crash down.
 If the network traffic is heavy, it increases collisions in the network. To
avoid this, various protocols are used in the MAC layer known as Pure
Aloha, Slotted Aloha, CSMA/CD, etc.
 Adding new devices to the network would slow down networks.
 Security is very low.
A common example of bus topology is the Ethernet LAN, where all devices are
connected to a single coaxial cable or twisted pair cable. This topology is also
used in cable television networks.
Ring Topology
In a Ring Topology, it forms a ring connecting devices with exactly two
neighboring devices. A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with a
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.
The data flows in one direction, i.e. it is unidirectional, but it can be made
bidirectional by having 2 connections between each Network Node, it is
called Dual Ring Topology. In-Ring Topology, the Token Ring Passing protocol is
used by the workstations to transmit the data.
o Ring topology is like a bus topology, but with connected ends.
o The node that receives the message from the previous computer will
retransmit to the next node.
o The data flows in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional.
o The data flows in a single loop continuously known as an endless loop.

The most common access method of ring topology is token passing.

 Token passing: It is a network access method in which a token is passed
from one node to another node.
  Token: It is a frame that circulates around the network.
Operations of Ring Topology
1. One station is known as a monitor station which takes all the
responsibility for performing the operations.
2. To transmit the data, the station has to hold the token. After the
transmission is done, the token is to be released for other stations to
use.
3. When no station is transmitting the data, then the token will circulate in
the ring.
4. There are two types of token release techniques: Early token
release releases the token just after transmitting the data and Delayed
token release releases the token after the acknowledgment is received
from the receiver.
Advantages of Ring Topology
 The data transmission is high-speed.
 The possibility of collision is minimum in this type of topology.
 Cheap to install and expand.
 It is less costly than a star topology.
Drawbacks of Ring Topology
 The failure of a single node in the network can cause the entire network
to fail.
 Troubleshooting is difficult in this topology.
 The addition of stations in between or the removal of stations can
disturb the whole topology.
 Less secure.
Tree Topology
This topology is the variation of the Star topology. This topology has a
hierarchical flow of data. In Tree Topology, protocols like DHCP and SAC
(Standard Automatic Configuration ) are used.
o Tree topology combines the characteristics of bus topology and star
topology.
o A tree topology is a type of structure in which all the computers are
connected with each other in hierarchical fashion.
o The top-most node in tree topology is known as a root node, and all
other nodes are the descendants of the root node.

Advantages of Tree Topology

 It allows more devices to be attached to a single central hub thus it
decreases the distance that is traveled by the signal to come to the
devices.
 It allows the network to get isolated and also prioritize from different
computers.
 We can add new devices to the existing network.
 Error detection and error correction are very easy in a tree topology.
Drawbacks of Tree Topology
 If the central hub gets fails the entire system fails.
  The cost is high because of the cabling.
 If new devices are added, it becomes difficult to reconfigure.
A common example of a tree topology is the hierarchy in a large organization.
At the top of the tree is the CEO, who is connected to the different
departments or divisions (child nodes) of the company. Each department has
its own hierarchy, with managers overseeing different teams (grandchild
nodes). The team members (leaf nodes) are at the bottom of the hierarchy,
connected to their respective managers and departments.

Hybrid Topology
This topological technology is the combination of all the various types of
topologies we have studied above. Hybrid Topology is used when the nodes are
free to take any form. It means these can be individuals such as Ring or Star
topology or can be a combination of various types of topologies seen above.
Each individual topology uses the protocol that has been discussed earlier.
o The combination of various different topologies is known as Hybrid
topology.
o A Hybrid topology is a connection between different links and nodes to
transfer the data.
o When two or more different topologies are combined together is termed
as Hybrid topology and if similar topologies are connected with each
other will not result in Hybrid topology. For example, if there exist a ring
topology in one branch of ICICI bank and bus topology in another branch
of ICICI bank, connecting these two topologies will result in Hybrid
topology.
Advantages of Hybrid Topology
 This topology is very flexible.
 The size of the network can be easily expanded by adding new devices.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Topology
 It is challenging to design the architecture of the Hybrid Network.
 Hubs used in this topology are very expensive.
 The infrastructure cost is very high as a hybrid network requires a lot of
cabling and network devices.
A common example of a hybrid topology is a university campus network. The
network may have a backbone of a star topology, with each building connected
to the backbone through a switch or router. Within each building, there may be
a bus or ring topology connecting the different rooms and offices. The wireless
access points also create a mesh topology for wireless devices. This hybrid
topology allows for efficient communication between different buildings while
providing flexibility and redundancy within each building
Local Area Network (LAN) –
LAN or Local Area Network connects network devices in such a way that
personal computers and workstations can share data, tools, and programs. The
group of computers and devices are connected together by a switch, or stack of
switches, using a private addressing scheme as defined by the TCP/IP protocol.
Private addresses are unique in relation to other computers on the local
network. Routers are found at the boundary of a LAN, connecting them to the
larger WAN.
Data transmits at a very fast rate as the number of computers linked is limited.
By definition, the connections must be high-speed and relatively inexpensive
hardware (Such as hubs, network adapters, and Ethernet cables). LANs cover a
smaller geographical area (Size is limited to a few kilometres) and are privately
owned. One can use it for an office building, home, hospital, school, etc. LAN is
easy to design and maintain. A Communication medium used for LAN has
twisted-pair cables and coaxial cables. It covers a short distance, and so the
error and noise are minimized.
Early LANs had data rates in the 4 to 16 Mbps range. Today, speeds are
normally 100 or 1000 Mbps. Propagation delay is very short in a LAN. The
smallest LAN may only use two computers, while larger LANs can
accommodate thousands of computers. LAN has a range up to 2km. A LAN
typically relies mostly on wired connections for increased speed and security,
but wireless connections can also be part of a LAN. The fault tolerance of a LAN
is more and there is less congestion in this network. For example A bunch of
students playing Counter-Strike in the same room (without internet).
Advantages:
 Provides fast data transfer rates and high-speed communication.
 Easy to set up and manage.
 Can be used to share peripheral devices such as printers and scanners.
 Provides increased security and fault tolerance compared to WANs.

Disadvantages:
 Limited geographical coverage.
  Limited scalability and may require significant infrastructure upgrades to
accommodate growth.
 May experience congestion and network performance issues with
increased usage.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) –
MAN or Metropolitan area Network covers a larger area than that covered by a
LAN and a smaller area as compared to WAN. MAN has a range of 5-50km. It
connects two or more computers that are apart but reside in the same or
different cities. It covers a large geographical area and may serve as an ISP
(Internet Service Provider). MAN is designed for customers who need high-
speed connectivity. Speeds of MAN range in terms of Mbps. It’s hard to design
and maintain a Metropolitan Area Network.

The fault tolerance of a MAN is less and also there is more congestion in the
network. It is costly and may or may not be owned by a single organization. The
data transfer rate and the propagation delay of MAN are moderate. Devices
used for transmission of data through MAN are Modem and Wire/Cable.
Examples of a MAN are part of the telephone company network that can
provide a high-speed DSL line to the customer or the cable TV network in a city.
Advantages:
 Provides high-speed connectivity over a larger geographical area than
LAN.
 Can be used as an ISP for multiple customers.
 Offers higher data transfer rates than WAN in some cases.

Disadvantages:
  Can be expensive to set up and maintain.
 May experience congestion and network performance issues with
increased usage.
 May have limited fault tolerance and security compared to LANs.
Wide Area Network (WAN) –
WAN or Wide Area Network is a computer network that extends over a large
geographical area, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state
or country. WAN has a range of above 50 km. A WAN could be a connection of
LAN connecting to other LANs via telephone lines and radio waves and may be
limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or accessible to the
public. The technology is high-speed and relatively expensive.
There are two types of WAN: Switched WAN and Point-to-Point WAN. WAN is
difficult to design and maintain. Similar to a MAN, the fault tolerance of a WAN
is less and there is more congestion in the network. A Communication medium
used for WAN is PSTN or Satellite Link. Due to long-distance transmission, the
noise and error tend to be more in WAN.
WAN’s data rate is slow about a 10th LAN’s speed since it involves increased
distance and increased number of servers and terminals etc. The speed of WAN
ranges from a few kilobits per second (Kbps) to megabits per second (Mbps).
Propagation delay is one of the biggest problems faced here. Devices used for
the transmission of data through WAN are Optic wires, Microwaves, and
Satellites. An example of a Switched WAN is the asynchronous transfer mode
(ATM) network and Point-to-Point WAN is a dial-up line that connects a home
computer to the Internet.
Advantages:
 Covers large geographical areas and can connect remote locations.
 Provides connectivity to the internet.
 Offers remote access to resources and applications.
 Can be used to support multiple users and applications simultaneously.
Disadvantages:
 Can be expensive to set up and maintain.
  Offers slower data transfer rates than LAN or MAN.
 May experience higher latency and longer propagation delays due to
longer distances and multiple network hops.
 May have lower fault tolerance and security compared to LANs.
Conclusion –
There are many advantages of LAN over MAN and WAN, such as LAN provide
excellent reliability, a high data transmission rate, and can easily be managed
and shares peripheral devices too. Local Area Network cannot cover cities or
towns and for that Metropolitan Area Network is needed, which can connect a
city or a group of cities together. Further, for connecting a Country or a group
of Countries one requires a Wide Area Network.