Chapter 5

Local and wide area networks

5.1. LAN topologies (bus, ring, star)

5.2. LAN technologies (Ethernet, token Ring, Gigabit

Ethernet)

5.3 Large networks and wide areas

5.1. LAN topologies (bus, ring, star)
Network Topology

• Topology is The map of a network ,two types of topology.

• Physical topology: describes where the cables and the workstations,

nodes, routers, and gateways are located. Networks are usually
configured in bus, ring, star, or mesh topologies.

• Logical topology: refers to the paths that messages take to get from
one user on the network to another
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 Bus Topology
• In Bus Topology:
– All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or
backbone
– The bus is terminated at its ends

Advantages

•Ease of installation.
•Less cabling than mesh or star topologies
•Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)

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Disadvantages of BUS

✓Difficult to administer/troubleshoot.

✓Limited cable length and number of stations.

✓If there is a problem with the cable, the entire network goes down.

✓Low security (all computers on the bus can see all data transmissions).

✓One virus in the network will affect all of them (but not as badly as a star or ring nw).

✓Proper termination is required.(loop must be in closed path).

Disadvantages of BUS…

✓Difficult to add new devices.

✓If one node fails, the whole network will shut down.

✓If many computers are attached, the amount of data flowing causes the network to
slow down.
 Star Topology
❖Central device, called hub or concentrator
❖This single point is called as a central node, hub, or
switch.
❖The hub:
• manages and controls all functions of the
network.
• acts as a repeater for the data flow.
• RJ-45 Connectors.

Advantages:
•Less expensive than a mesh topology.
•Easy to administer/troubleshoot Disadvantages:
•Easy to install and reconfigure •A single point of failure, the hub
additions, moves, and deletions ,the whole nw will be down
•It is robust. •More cabling than in bus.
• failures a single point still there is nw
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Ring topology
• All devices are connected to one
another in the shape of a closed loop

• Transmitted messages travel from node to

node around the ring.

• Each node must be able to recognize its

Ring topology
own address in order to accept messages.
Advantage
➢Data is quickly transferred without a ‘bottle neck’ (very fast, all data traffic is in
the same direction)

➢Transmission of data is relatively simple as packets travel in one direction only.

➢Adding additional nodes has very little impact on bandwidth

➢It prevents network collisions because of the media access method or architecture
required.
 “Taking ring
Token passing: T

 control token passed from one node to

next sequentially.
 token message
(nothing
 concerns: to send)

 token overhead T

 latency
 single point of failure (token)

data

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 Disadvantages
➢Data packets must pass through every computer between the sender and recipient
therefore this makes it slower.
➢If any of the nodes fail then the ring is broken and data cannot be transmitted
successfully.
➢It is difficult to troubleshoot the ring.
➢Because all stations are wired together, to add a station you must shut down the
network temporarily.
➢In order for all computers to communicate with each other, all computers must be
turned on.
➢Total dependence upon the one cable
➢A break in the ring can disable the entire network.
Solution: a dual ring or a switch capable of closing off the break
Mesh Topology
• High redundancy and fault tolerance since every node links to other,
ensures no single point failures
• Full mesh: every node to every other node
• Redundant interconnection.

Advantages:
•Dedicated link  security &
privacy
Disadvantages:
•Robust: Failure of link does not
•Difficult installation and
affect network
reconnection
•Easy fault identification and •Requires large wiring space
isolation •Expensive: I/O ports and cables
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 Ethernet
➢Computer networking has become an integral part of business today.

➢Individuals, professionals and academics have also learned to rely on computer

networks for capabilities such as electronic mail and access to remote databases
for research and communication purposes.

➢Networking has thus become an increasingly pervasive (universal), worldwide

reality because it is fast, efficient, reliable and effective.

➢Just how all this information is transmitted, stored, categorized and accessed
remains a mystery to the average computer user
 Types of LAN Technology
Ethernet
• Ethernet is the most popular network on physical layer LAN technology in use
today.

• It defines the number of conductors that are required for a connection, the
performance thresholds that can be expected, and provides the framework for data
transmission.

• A standard Ethernet network can transmit data at a rate up to 10 Megabits per

second (10 Mbps).

• Other LAN types include Token Ring, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit
Ethernet, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM)
 Fast Ethernet
• The Fast Ethernet standard (IEEE 802.3u) has been established for Ethernet
networks that need higher transmission speeds.

• This standard raises the Ethernet speed limit from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps with only
minimal changes to the existing cable structure.

• Fast Ethernet provides faster throughput for video, multimedia, graphics, Internet
surfing and stronger error detection and correction.
There are three types of Fast Ethernet:
❖100BASE-TX for use with level 5 UTP cable;

❖100BASE-FX for use with fiber-optic cable; and

❖100BASE-T4 which utilizes an extra two wires for use with level 3
UTP cable.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)

➢PoE is a solution in which an electrical current is run to networking hardware

over the Ethernet Category 5 cable or higher.

➢This solution does not require an extra AC power cord at the product
location.

➢This minimizes the amount of cable needed as well as eliminates the

difficulties and cost of installing extra outlets.
 LAN Technology Specifications
Name IEEE Data Rate Media Type Maximum Distance
Standard
Ethernet 802.3 10 Mbps 10Base-T 100 meters
Fast Ethernet/ 802.3u 100 Mbps 100Base-TX 100 meters
100Base-T 100Base-FX 2000 meters
Gigabit Ethernet/ 802.3z 1000 Mbps 1000Base-T 100 meters
GigE 1000Base-SX 275/550 meters
1000Base-LX 550/5000 meters
10 Gigabit IEEE 10 Gbps 10GBase-SR 300 meters
Ethernet 802.3ae 10GBase-LX4 300m MMF/ 10km
10GBase-LR/ER SMF
10GBase- 10km/40km
SW/LW/EW 300m/10km/40km
Values of the network devices on the Ethernet
➢Repeaters allow LANs to extend beyond normal distance limitations, they still
limit the number of nodes that can be supported.

➢Bridges and switches on the other hand allow LANs to grow significantly larger
by virtue of their ability to support full Ethernet segments on each port.

➢Bridges and switches selectively filter network traffic to only those packets
needed on each segment, significantly increasing throughput on each segment and
on the overall network.
 Token Ring
➢Token Ring is another form of network configuration.

➢It differs from Ethernet in that all messages are transferred in one direction along
the ring at all times.

➢Token Ring networks sequentially pass a “token” to each connected device.

➢When the token arrives at a particular computer (or device), the recipient is
allowed to transmit data onto the network.
 Cont.…
➢Since only one device may be transmitting at any given time, no data collisions
occur.

➢Access to the network is guaranteed, and time-sensitive applications can be

supported.

➢However, these benefits come at a price. Component costs are usually higher, and
the networks themselves are considered to be more complex and difficult to
implement.

➢Various PC vendors have been proponents of Token Ring networks

 Network Media
• An important part of designing and installing an Ethernet is selecting the
appropriate Ethernet medium.

• There are four major types of media in use today:

• Thick wire for 10BASE5 networks(expensive and difficult to use)

• thin coax for 10BASE2 networks (easier to work with and less expensive)

• unshielded twisted pair (UTP) for 10BASE-T networks;

• Fiber optic for 10BASE-FL or Fiber-Optic Inter-Repeater Link (FOIRL)

networks. (the most faster)
Cable Grade Capabilities
Cable Makeup Frequency Data Rate Network Compatibility
Name Support

Cat-5 4 twisted pairs of copper wire — 100 MHz Up to 1000Mbps ATM, Token
terminated by RJ45 connectors Ring,1000Base-T,
100Base-TX, 10Base-T

Cat-5e 4 twisted pairs of copper wire — 100 MHz Up to 1000Mbps 10Base-T, 100Base-TX,
terminated by RJ45 connectors 1000Base-T

Cat-6 4 twisted pairs of copper wire — 250 MHz 1000Mbps 10Base-T, 100Base-TX,
terminated by RJ45 connectors 1000Base-T
Transceivers
✓Transceivers are also referred to as Medium Access Units (MAUs). They are used
to connect nodes to the various Ethernet media.

✓Most computers and network interface cards contain a built-in 10BASE-T or

10BASE2 transceiver which allows them to be connected directly to Ethernet
without the need for an external transceiver.
 Cont…
✓Many Ethernet devices provide an attachment unit interface (AUI) connector to
allow the user to connect to any type of medium via an external transceiver.

✓The AUI connector consists of a 15-pin D-shell type connector, female on the
computer side, male on the transceiver side.

✓For Fast Ethernet networks, a new interface called the MII (Media Independent
Interface) was developed to offer a flexible way to support 100 Mbps connections.

✓The MII is a popular way to connect 100BASE-FX links to copper-based Fast

Ethernet devices.
15-pin D-shell type connector

Females
Network Interface Cards
➢Network Interface Cards, commonly referred to as NICs, are used to connect a PC
to a network.

➢The NIC provides a physical connection between the networking cable and the
computer’s internal bus. Different computers have different bus architectures.

➢ PCI bus slots are most commonly found on 486/Pentium PCs and ISA expansion
slots are commonly found on 386 and older PCs.

➢NICs come in three basic varieties: 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit.

➢The larger number of bits that can be transferred to the NIC, the faster NIC can
transfer data to the network cable.
 Conti…
▪ Many NIC adapters comply with plug-and-play specifications.

▪ On these systems, NICs are systems or adapters automatically configured without user
intervention, while on non-plug-and-play systems, configuration is done manually
through a set-up program and/or DIP switches.

▪ Cards are available to support almost all networking standards. Fast Ethernet NICs are
often 10/100 capable, and will automatically set to the appropriate speed.

▪ Gigabit Ethernet NICs are 10/100/1000 capable with auto negotiation depending on the
user’s Ethernet speed.

▪ Full duplex networking is another option where a dedicated connection to a switch allows
a NIC to operate at twice the speed.