Computer Networks Practical’s
Experiment No.03
Roll. No.: A045 Name: Pratik Nirgun
Sem/Year: MCA 24-26 (Sem I) Batch: II
Date of Experiment: 03 Aug 2024 Date of Submission: 03 Aug 24
Grade --
B.1: Procedure of performed experiment
Bus Topology:
Step 1: Open Cisco Packet Tracer
1. Launch Cisco Packet Tracer on your computer.
Step 2: Add Devices to the Workspace
1. Add PCs:
From the device selection panel, drag and drop the desired number of PCs onto the workspace.
These will be the endpoints of your bus topology.
2. Add Switches:
To simulate the bus topology, you will use switches. Drag and drop a switch onto the workspace.
Step 3: Connect the Devices
1. Connect PCs to the Switch:
Select the "Copper Straight-Through" cable from the connection’s menu.
Click on each PC and then click on the switch to connect them.
Ensure each PC is connected to a different port on the switch.
Step 4: Configure IP Addresses
1. Assign IP Addresses to PCs:
Click on a PC, go to the Desktop tab, and select IP Configuration.
Assign a static IP address to each PC in the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2, etc.).
Step 5: Test the Network
1. Ping Between PCs:
Open the command prompt on one of the PCs.
Use the ping command to test connectivity between the PCs (e.g., ping 192.168.1.2).
Step 6: Save the Configuration
1. Save Your Work:
Click on File and select Save to save your network topology.
Ring Topology:
Step 1: Open Cisco Packet Tracer
1. Launch Cisco Packet Tracer on your computer.
Step 2: Add Devices to the Workspace
1. Add PCs:
From the device selection panel, drag and drop the desired number of PCs onto the
workspace.
2. Add Switches:
Drag and drop the required number of switches onto the workspace. For this example, we'll
use four switches.
Step 3: Connect the Switches in a Ring
1. Connect Switches Using Copper Cross-Over Cables:
Select the "Copper Cross-Over" cable from the connection’s menu.
Connect the switches in a circular fashion:
Connect Switch1 to Switch2
Connect Switch2 to Switch3
Connect Switch3 to Switch4
Connect Switch4 back to Switch1
Step 4: Connect PCs to the Switches
1. Connect PCs to Switches Using Copper Straight-Through Cables:
Select the "Copper Straight-Through" cable from the connection’s menu.
Connect each PC to one of the switches. For example:
Connect PC1 to Switch1
Connect PC2 to Switch2
Connect PC3 to Switch3
Connect PC4 to Switch4\
Step 5: Configure IP Addresses
1. Assign IP Addresses to PCs:
Click on a PC, go to the Desktop tab, and select IP Configuration.
Assign a static IP address to each PC in the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2, etc.).
Step 7: Test the Network
1. Ping Between PCs:
Open the command prompt on one of the PCs.
Use the ping command to test connectivity between the PCs (e.g., ping 192.168.1.2).
Step 8: Save the Configuration
1. Save Your Work:
Click on File and select Save to save your network topology.
Hybrid Topology:
Step 1. Open Cisco Packet Tracer:
• Launch the Cisco Packet Tracer application.
Step 2. Select the Necessary Devices:
• Hub: Go to the “Network Devices” section, select “Hubs,” and drag a hub onto
the workspace.
• Computers: Go to the “End Devices” section, select “PC,” and drag the required
number of computers onto the workspace.
• Cables: Go to the “Connections” section and choose the appropriate cables
(typically Copper Straight-Through cables for hub connections).
Step 3. Connect Devices in a Bus Topology:
• Connect each computer to the hub using Copper Straight-Through cables.
• Click on a computer, select the “Fast Ethernet” port, and then click on the hub
to complete the connection.
• Repeat this for all computers, connecting them to different ports on the hub.
Step 4. Create the Ring Topology:
• Although Cisco Packet Tracer doesn’t directly support a physical ring topology
with a hub, you can simulate a ring by logically configuring the devices.
• Use the “Connections” section to draw lines (connections) between the
computers in a circular pattern.
• For instance, connect Computer 1 to Computer 2, Computer 2 to Computer 3,
and so on until the last computer connects back to Computer 1, forming a logical ring.
Step 5. Configure IP Addresses:
• Assign IP addresses to each computer to ensure they are in the same subnet.
• Click on a computer, go to the “Desktop” tab, select “IP Configuration,” and
assign an IP address and subnet mask.
• Repeat this for all computers.
Step 6. Test Connectivity:
• Use the “Simple PDU” tool to test connectivity between devices.
• Click on the “Simple PDU” tool, then click on the source device and the
destination device.
• Observe the simulation to ensure data packets are successfully transmitted
around the ring and through the hub.
Step 7. Verify Network Operation:
• Check the network by pinging from one computer to another.
• Open the Command Prompt on a computer (Desktop > Command Prompt).
• Use the ping command followed by the IP address of another computer to test
the connection.
Example of a Simple Network Configuration:
1. Devices and IP Addresses:
• Hub
• Computer 1: 192.168.1.2
• Computer 2: 192.168.1.3
• Computer 3: 192.168.1.4
• Computer 4: 192.168.1.5
2. Connections:
• All computers connected to the hub.
• Logical ring connections:
• Computer 1 to Computer 2
• Computer 2 to Computer 3
• Computer 3 to Computer 4
• Computer 4 to Computer 1
Step 8. Save and Exit:
• Go to the “File” menu, select “Save” to save your work, then select “Exit” to
close the application. If prompted to save unsaved changes, choose “Save” to ensure no work
is lost before exiting.
B2. Questions of Curiosity:s
In scenarios involving simultaneous data transmissions from multiple devices, how do hubs and
switches differ in their handling of network traffic, and what are the observable effects on overall
network performance and latency?
Ans. Hubs vs. Switches: Handling Network Traffic
Hubs
1. Broadcast to All Devices:
Hubs send data to all connected devices, not just the intended one.
This can lead to data collisions when multiple devices send data at the same time.
2. Collisions and Delays:
Data collisions mean devices have to resend information, causing delays.
More devices mean more collisions and slower network performance.
Switches
1. Send Data Directly:
Switches send data only to the intended device by checking the device’s address.
This reduces unnecessary data traffic.
2. Fewer Collisions:
Each device connected to a switch has its own path, reducing collisions.
This leads to faster and more reliable network performance.
Summary
Hubs: Cause more data collisions and delays because they broadcast to all devices.
Switches: Reduce collisions and improve speed by sending data directly to the intended device.
Switches handle network traffic much better, making your network faster and more efficient.
B.3: Observations and Learning’s:
In a ring topology, devices are connected in a circular fashion. Each device is connected to two other
devices, forming a ring. This setup allows data to travel in one direction, reducing collisions. However, if
one device fails, it can disrupt the entire network.
In a bus topology, all devices are connected to a single central cable. It's simple and cost-effective for small
networks. However, as more devices are added, collisions increase, leading to slower network performance.
If the central cable fails, the whole network goes down.
Learnings:
Ring topology offers better collision management but has a single point of failure.
Bus topology is easier to set up but struggles with high traffic and has a central point of failure.
B.4: Conclusion:
Both ring and bus topologies have their strengths and weaknesses. Ring topology manages data collisions better and
maintains orderly data flow, but a single device failure can disrupt the entire network. Bus topology is simple and
cost-effective for small setups, but it suffers from increased collisions and performance issues as more devices are
added, and a failure in the central cable can bring down the whole network. Choosing the right topology depends on
the specific needs and scale of your network, considering factors like reliability, cost, and ease of maintenance.
