Computer Network

Ida Bagus Ketut Widiartha, Ph.D.

Network Topology
Topology defines the structure of the network of
how all the components are interconnected to
each other. There are two types of topology:
physical and logical topology. Types of Network
Topology
Physical topology is the geometric representation
of all the nodes in a network.
There are six types of network topology which are
Bus Topology,
Ring Topology,
Tree Topology,
Star Topology,
Mesh Topology, and
Hybrid Topology.
 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. 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.
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.
The most common access method of the bus topologies is CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access)
 Bus Topology
CSMA: It is a media access control used to control the data flow so that
data integrity is maintained, i.e., the packets do not get lost. There are two
alternative ways of handling the problems that occur when two nodes send
the messages simultaneously
CSMA CD: CSMA CD (Collision detection) is an access method used to
detect the collision. Once the collision is detected, the sender will stop
transmitting the data. Therefore, it works on "recovery after the collision".
CSMA CA: CSMA CA (Collision Avoidance) is an access method used to
avoid the collision by checking whether the transmission media is busy
or not. If busy, then the sender waits until the media becomes idle. This
technique effectively reduces the possibility of the collision. It does not
work on "recovery after the collision".

Disadvantages of Bus topology:

Advantages of Bus topology:
Extensive cabling: -->still it requires a lot of cabling.
Low Cost cable --> no need hub/switchj
Difficult troubleshooting: It requires specialized test equipment to
Moderate speed --> 10Mbps
determine the cable faults.
Familiar technology --> the installation
Signal interference: If two nodes send the messages simultaneously,
and troubleshooting techniques are well
then the signals of both the nodes collide with each other.
known, and hardware components are
Reconfiguration difficult: Adding new devices to the network would
easily available
slow down the network.
Limited Failure --> A failure in one node
Attenuation: Attenuation is a loss of signal leads to communication
eill not have any effect on other nodes.
issues. --> Repeaters are used to regenerate the signal.
 Ring topology is like a bus topology, but with connected ends.
The node that receives the message from the previous computer will

Ring Topology 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.
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

Advantages of Ring topology: Disadvantages of Ring topology:

Network Management: Faulty Difficult troubleshooting: It requires
devices can be removed from the specialized test equipment to
network without bringing the network determine the cable faults. If any
down. fault occurs in the cable, then it
Product availability: Many hardware would disrupt the communication
and software tools for network for all the nodes.
operation and monitoring are Failure: The breakdown in one
available. station leads to the failure of the
Cost: Twisted pair cabling is overall network.
inexpensive and easily available. Reconfiguration difficult: Adding new
Therefore, the installation cost is devices to the network would slow
very low. down the network.
Reliable: It is a more reliable network Delay: Communication delay is
because the communication system directly proportional to the number
is not dependent on the single host of nodes. Adding new devices
computer. 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 Topology

Advantages.
Efficient troubleshooting
Network control
Limited failure
Familiar technology
Easily expandable
Cost effective
High data speeds

Disadvantages
A central point of failure --> all down
Cable : sometimes cable routing become difficult
when a significant amount of routing 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 parentchild hierarchy
Advantages: Disadvantages.
Support for broadband transmission: Tree topology is Difficult troubleshooting --
mainly used to provide broadband transmission, i.e., > if any fault occurs in the
signals are sent over long distances without being node
attenuated. High cost:
Easily expandable: We can add the new device to the Failure: a tree topology
existing network. mainly relies on main bus
Easily manageable: In tree topology, the whole network cable and failure in main
is divided into segments known as star networks which bus cable will demage the
can be easily managed and maintained. overall network
Error detection: Error detection and error correction are Reconfiguration diffiucult:
very easy in a tree topology. If new devices are added,
Limited failure: The breakdown in one station does not then it becomes diffiult to
affect the entire network. reccnfigure.
Point-to-point wiring: It has point-to-point wiring for
individual segments.
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;

Mesh topology is divided into two categories:

Fully connected mesh topology --> full mesh topology
Partially connected mesh topology --> partial mesh topology

Advantages: Disadvantages:
Reliable Cost
Fast Communication Management -->difficult to mannage
Easy to Reconfigure Efficiency --> redundant connection --> reduce
efficiency
Hybrid Topology
The combination of various different topologies is known as Hybrid topology.
A Hybrid topology is a connection between different links and nodes to transfer the
data.
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:
Reliable Disadvantages:
Scalable --> easy to expand Complex design --> difficult to design
Flexible --> it can be designed according the requirements of the organization costly hub --> expensive --> theses hubs are
Effective different from usual hubs used in other topologies
Costly infrastructure --> need a lot of cabling,
network devices, etc.
Transmission Modes
The way in which data is transmitted from one
device to another device is known as
transmission mode.
The transmission mode is also known as the
communication mode.
Each communication channel has a direction
associated with it, and transmission media
provide the direction. Therefore, the
transmission mode is also known as a
directional mode.
The transmission mode is defined in the
physical layer.
Simplex Mode
In Simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional,
i.e., the data flow in one direction.
A device can only send the data but cannot receive it or
it can receive the data but cannot send the data.
This transmission mode is not very popular as mainly
Advantages
communications require the two-way exchange of
In simplex mode, the station can utilize the entire bandwidth of the
data. The simplex mode is used in the business field communication channel, so that more data can be transmitted at a
as in sales that do not require any corresponding reply. time.
The radio station is a simplex channel as it transmits
the signal to the listeners but never allows them to Disadvantages
Communication is unidirectional, so it has no inter-communication
transmit back.
between devices
Keyboard and Monitor are the examples of the simplex
mode as a keyboard can only accept the data from the
user and monitor can only be used to display the data
on the screen.
he main advantage of the simplex mode is that the full
capacity of the communication channel can be utilized
during transmission
Half Duplex Mode
In a Half-duplex channel, direction can be reversed, i.e., the
station can transmit and receive the data as well.
Messages flow in both the directions, but not at the same
time.
The entire bandwidth of the communication channel is
utilized in one direction at a time.
Advantages
In half-duplex mode, it is possible to perform the error both the devices can send and receive the data and also can
detection, and if any error occurs, then the receiver requests utilize the entire bandwidth of the communication channel during
the sender to retransmit the data. the transmission of data
A Walkie-talkie is an example of the Half-duplex mode. In
Disadvantages
Walkie-talkie, one party speaks, and another party listens.
when one device is sending the data, then another has to wait,
After a pause, the other speaks and first party listens. this causes the delay in sending the data at the right time
Speaking simultaneously will create the distorted sound
which cannot be understood.
Full Duplex Mode
In Full duplex mode, the communication is bi-directional, i.e.,
the data flow in both the directions.
Both the stations can send and receive the message
simultaneously. o Full-duplex mode has two simplex
channels. One channel has traffic moving in one direction,
and another channel has traffic flowing in the opposite
Advantages
direction. Both the stations can send and receive the data at the same time.
The Full-duplex mode is the fastest mode of communication
between devices. Disadvantages
The most common example of the full-duplex mode is a If there is no dedicated path exists between the devices, then
the capacity of the communication channel is divided into two
telephone network. When two people are communicating with
parts.
each other by a telephone line, both can talk and listen at the
same time.
The differences
b/w simplex, half
duplex an full
duplex
Thank you!