Network Resources
Types of network connection
LAN and WAN
WAN- Wide Network Area- Is a computer network that covers a broad area. Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various locations.The Internet can be considered a WAN as well, and is used by businesses, governments, organizations, and individuals for almost any purpose imaginable.
What are the different topologies?
Bus, Star, Ring.
Star Topology- In local area networks with a star topology, each network host is connected to a central hub. The network does not necessarily have to resemble a star to be classified as a star network, but all of the nodes on the network must be connected to one central device.
Ring Topology- A network topology that is set up in a circular fashion in which data travels around the ring in one direction and each device on the right acts as a repeater to keep the signal strong as it travels.
Bus Topology- Local Area Network
Star Topology- Local Area Network
Ring Topology- Local Area Network
Pros and Cons of Bus, Star and Ring topology.
Pros
- It is easy to set-up and extend bus network.
- Cable length required for this topology is the least compared to other networks.
- Bus topology costs very less.
- Linear Bus network is mostly used in small networks. Good for LAN
- There is a limit on central cable length and number of nodes that can be connected.
- Dependency on central cable in this topology has its disadvantages.If the main cable (i.e. bus ) encounters some problem, whole network breaks down.
- Proper termination is required to dump signals. Use of terminators is must.
- It is difficult to detect and troubleshoot fault at individual station.
Pros
- As compared to Bus topology it gives far much better performance, signals don’t necessarily get transmitted to all the workstations. A sent signal reaches the intended destination after passing through no more than 3-4 devices and 2-3 links. Performance of the network is dependent on the capacity of central hub.
- Easy to connect new nodes or devices. In star topology new nodes can be added easily without affecting rest of the network. Similarly components can also be removed easily.
- Centralized management. It helps in monitoring the network.
- Failure of one node or link doesn’t affect the rest of network. At the same time its easy to detect the failure and troubleshoot it.
- Too much dependency on central device has its own drawbacks. If it fails whole network goes down.
- The use of hub, a router or a switch as central device increases the overall cost of the network.
- Performance and as well number of nodes which can be added in such topology is depended on capacity of central device.
Pros
- Each node gets to send the data when it receives an empty token. This helps to reduces chances of collision. Also in ring topology all the traffic flows in only one direction at very high speed.
- Even when the load on the network increases, its performance is better than that of bus topology.
- There is no need for network server to control the connectivity between workstations.
- Additional components do not affect the performance of network.
- Each computer has equal access to resources.
- Each packet of data must pass through all the computers between source and destination. This makes it slower than star topology.
- If one workstation or port goes down, the entire network gets affected.
- Network is highly dependent on the wire which connects different components.
Components required to put a network together
- Hub
- Server
- Patch Panel
- Patch Leads