CHAPTER

LAN Topology

Chapter Objectives
Describe the characteristics of different LAN topologies
Bus, ring, star and mixed topologies

Compare and contrast the topologies with one another with respect to their relative advantages and disadvantages

Chapter Modules
Topology: The Bus LAN Bus LAN Practical Implementations Topology: The Ring LAN Ring LAN Practical Implementation Topology: The Star LAN Topology: Mixed Topologies

END OF Chapter Introduction

MODULE

The Bus Topology

Questions
What are physical and logical topologies? What is a collision domain? How can the bus network be implemented in practice?
How is it frequently implemented in practice?

How could collisions be reduced? Is it possible to reduce the danger of a cable breakdown? Explain.

Bus Network
Printer
Server Peripheral Device

Single Data Bus

Workstation

Workstation

Bus LAN Transmission Logic

Listen to the bus for traffic If no traffic is detected, then transmit Otherwise, if the bus is busy with traffic, wait for a random period of time before attempting to transmit again Repeated attempts will be made until the bus is found free

Collision of Data
Two workstations may find the bus free at the same time Both would transmit at the same time
Collision of data occurs

Both workstations will now wait for a random period of time before attempting to transmit again

Advantages of Bus LAN

Cabling is simple and easy to install in a local setup Based on well established standards
IEEE 802.3 Also known as the Ethernet standard

Disadvantages of a Bus LAN

Sharing of a single data bus
When the traffic increases the performance deteriorates

Waiting period may reach unacceptable lengths of time under heavy data traffic Cable fault results in the entire LAN becoming inoperative

Solution
Collision domains are present only when a hub used Using switches will eliminate the collision domains

Advantage of Using a Switch

WS2

Switch

WS1 LAN 1 (Collision Domain 1)

WS3 LAN 2 (Collision Domain 2)

Occasional Crossover Traffic

Practical Consideration
All popular logical bus networks currently implemented using switches

In Summary
The use of switches in a . network reduces network traffic congestion
Increases the utilization of the bus network

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Bus LAN Practical Implementation: 10Base2

Logical and Physical Topology

Logical topology
Logical functioning of a network

Physical topology
Physical configuration of a network

Example:
For ease of implementation, a logical bus network may be physically configured as a star network

Major Bus Implementation Architectures

10Base2 10Base5 10BaseT 100BaseTX 1000BaseT
Although this represents a logical bus topology, it is implemented physically in the form of a star topology

Topologies
10Base2 and 10Base5
Logical bus and Physical bus

10BaseT
Logical bus and Physical star

100BaseTx
Logical bus and physical star Fast Ethernet LAN

10Base2
10 Mbps LAN Based on a well established standard
Ethernet 802.3 standard

Configured using thin coaxial cables

Sometimes called the 10Base2 cables

Very popular in the past In recent times, the popularity has declined
Due to emergence of fast Ethernet
Due to the popularity of 100BaseTX

Components for Building a 10Base2 Network

T connector

Network Interface Card

Thin coaxial cable

Terminator

A Typical Installation
BNC Jack
Thin Coaxial Cable T Connector Terminator Expansion Slots

Practical Implementation

Source: Black Box

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Bus LAN Practical Implementation: 10Base5

10Base5
10 Mbps It is also based on a popular standard known as the Ethernet 802.3 standard Thick coaxial cables are used for configuring the network in this case
The cables are less maneuverable

In practice, the 10Base5 network is often used as a feeder connection to 10Base2 and/or other types of networks

A Simple Implementation
Vampire Clamp
Thick Coax (10Base5) Transceiver 15-pin AUI Connector Client Server Transceiver

A Practical Implementation

Source: Black Box

10Base5 Feeder Connection

10Base 5 Feeder Line

10Base2 Clusters

Source: Black Box

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Topology: The Ring LAN

Questions
Is there a collision domain in this case? How is a ring network implemented in practice? Is the ring network technologically superior to the bus network? Is a ring or bus LAN used widely in practice?
Explain

Ring LAN
Printer Peripheral Device

Server

WS

WS

WS

Ring LAN : Practical Implementation

Multi-Access Unit (MAU) Or Hub

Server

WS

Physical Star/ Logical Ring

Practical Implementation Considerations of a Ring Network

Based on a central hub
Multi-Access Unit (MAU) Multi-Station Access Unit (MSAU)

Logical ring
Wiring inside the hub

Physical star
Resembles in appearance only

Ring bypass
Bypass the Non-functioning workstation

Ring LAN
Token
Server

WS

WS

WS Token carries and delivers the information in the network.

Characteristics of the Ring Transmission Logic

Data path
A ring that connects the workstations and the servers

Transmission logic
Based on a token that circulates around the ring The token carries the data

Protocol
The popular IEEE 802.5 standard

Ring LAN Advantages

Orderly transmission of data Guarantees an opportunity for each workstation to transmit Performance deterioration is not as critical as in the case of the bus LAN
Data traffic congestion is minimized Gradual decline in performance with increased load

A good topology for larger LANs

Used as a backbone in large enterprise networks

Ring LAN Disadvantages

Difficult to implement the network as a ring
This drawback is overcome by physically implementing the network in the form of a star

Relatively higher cost of configuring the ring LAN

Current Status of the Ring LAN

First introduced to overcome the speed limitation of the older bus networks
16 Mbps ring LANs as opposed to the 10 Mbps bus LANs

Recent advancement in bus LANs in the 100 Mbps speed range

Resulted in the decline in the popularity of the ring LANs However, 100 Mbps Token-Ring products are now available

Questions
Is there a collision domain in this case? How is a ring network implemented in practice? Is the ring network technologically superior to the bus network? Is a ring or bus LAN used widely in practice?
Explain

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Ring LAN Practical Implementation

Practical Ring LAN Characteristics

The practical implementation is based on the IEEE 802.5 standard The newer Ring LANs operate at a speed of 100 mbps
Many current Ring LANs operate at 16 Mbps The older ring LANs operate at 4 Mbps

As a hub-based LAN, it is easy to implement and manage

Hardware Required to Implement a Basic Token Ring LAN

Token-ring NIC Cable
IBM Type 1 or 2 or 3 UTP as needed by the design

Multi-station Access Unit (MAU)

Multi-station Access Unit (MSAU) Smart Multi-station Access Unit (SMAU)

Actual Implementation Hardware

Source: Black Box

A Typical Token Ring LAN Configuration

Special IBM Connectors
Multi-Station Access Unit IBM Type 1 Twisted Pair

9-Pin AUI Connectors

Client

Client

Server

An Actual 4 Mbps Token Ring Implementation

Source: Black Box

An Actual 16 Mbps Token Ring LAN Implementation

Source: Black Box

An Actual 4 Mbps Token Ring Implementation

Source: Black Box

Web Research
Visit http://www.landfield.com/faqs/LANs/toke n-ring-faq/ for additional information on Token-Ring network Visit http://www.networking.ibm.com/tra/trspe c700.html#34L5201 Visit www.ibm.com for further information on Token-Ring products

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Topology: The Star LAN

Star Network

Server

Please note that this is not a hub but a server.

Work Station

Work Station

Work Station

Polling: The Functioning of the Logical Star Network

The server polls each workstation in turn inquiring whether a workstation has information to transmit If a workstation has information to transmit:
the server will obtain the information and deliver it to the intended destination

Each workstation is given a chance to transmit

Practical Implications of Polling

Polling works well in the case of a LAN with a single server Becomes complicated when there are multiple servers Majority of networks are not based on the logical star topology They are based on the physical star topology
Best suited for practical implementation

Essential Features of the Physical and Logical Star Topologies

Almost all star LANs found in practice conform to the physical star topology Many of them operate based on a logical bus topology or a logical ring topology as seen earlier Reason for choosing a physical star topology for implementation
Ease with which a LAN can be built around hubs and managed

Popular Physical Star Implementations

10BaseT
10 Mbps, Ethernet network Uses a hub and twisted pair wires

100BaseTx

100 Mbps, Fast Ethernet network Hubs and twisted pair wires are used Higher quality twisted pair wires are used
Category 5

1000BaseT

1 Gbps Ethernet Switches and twisted pair wire are used Higher quality wires are needed such as Cat 5e and above

Actual Implementation Hardware

Network Cards

Cables

Hub
Source: Black Box

A Typical Star Ethernet LAN Configuration

RJ 45 Connection
Hub Twisted Pair Wire (10baseT)

NIC
Workstation

NIC
Workstation

NIC
Workstation

An Actual Implementation of a Ethernet StarLAN

Source: Black Box

Questions?
Give the name of one or more networks that could be classified as:
a logical bus and a physical bus network? a logical bus and a physical star network? a logical ring and a physical star network? a logical star and a physical star network?

END OF MODULE

MODULE

Topology: Mixed Topologies

Reason for the Mixed Topology

Mixed topologies are found in many organizations A very large LAN is composed of small LAN segments
Each segment may be based on a different topology

A Large Mixed Topology Network

Bus LAN Mainframe Systems Ring Backbone

Star LAN

Ring LAN

Characteristics of Mixed Topologies

Mixed topologies result from internetworking Mixed topologies can include network segments of different protocols or of the same protocol Interfacing devices
Hubs, switches, bridges, routers and gateways

A Simple Mixed Topology LAN

Transceiver Hub AUI BNC PC PC PC Server Bus LAN Server

PC

Star LAN

A Simple Mixed Topology LAN Characteristics

Topologies connected together
Star and Bus

Protocol
Both operate under the Ethernet protocol

Transceiver
Interconnects star and bus LANs

A More Advanced Mixed Topology

Bus Network Segment
Bus

Router
Bus

Ring Backbone

Bus Network Segment

END OF MODULE

END OF MODULE

END OF MODULE END OF CHAPTER