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Networks allow use to connect to other devices. This can be either around the
world or connecting to people in your own home. The purpose of a network is to
communicate and to file share.
Networking cables
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In a ring network the workstations are connected in a closed loop. The adjacent
pairs of workstations are directly connected but the others are indirectly
connected.
In a token ring the data only travels one way form node to node. A token ring can
be used in a star or a ring network.
Advantage: the network can send data quickly even if there are a lot of
workstations.
Disadvantage: if the main cable fails or a device is faulty the network will not
work.
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In the bus each workstation is connected to a main cable called the bus. In the
bus the data is sent by the bus. If there are a lot of workstation the data will travel
slowly. If there is a problem with the main cable no data can travel. Each
workstation is directly connected to each other.
Advantages: easy to install, easy to add workstations and doesn't use a lot of
cables.
Disadvantages: low security and limited cable length, also if the main cable
breaks the bus is inactive.
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The Star network uses a switch. This means all the workstations connect to the
switch using a straight through cable. Because we are using a switch another
switch can be placed in a different room. This means you can use the network as
long as the two switches are connected. The switch send every data packet to
every computer.
Advantages: very reliable: If one cable or device fails then all the others will
continue to work, high performing as no data collisions can occur.
Disadvantages: Expensive to install as this type of network uses the most cable
(network cable is expensive), If a hub or switch fails all the devices connected to it
will have no network connection
In a mesh network you can have either a full or a partial. A full mesh network is where
every workstation is connected. In a partial some workstations are connected to every
computer but some are only connected to the nodes that transfer the most data.
Advantages of Mesh topology
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Data can be transmitted from different devices simultaneously. This topology can
withstand high traffic. Even if one of the components fails there is always an alternative
present. So data transfer doesn’t get affected. Expansion and modification in topology
can be done without disrupting other nodes.
Disadvantages of Mesh topology
There are high chances of redundancy in many of the network connections. Overall cost
of this network is way too high as compared to other network topologies. Set-up and
maintenance of this topology is very difficult. Even administration of the network is
tough.
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In this network three switches are used to create a ring network. From each
switch is another switch. Form these switches a star network is created where all
the work stations are connected using cables. The largest hybrid network is the
internet
Advantages: this uses three star networks if one of the star networks fail the
network is still usable. The hybrid uses aspects of a star, a ring, a bus and a daisy
chain.
Disadvantage: there is a lot of cable and 6 switches in this example and could be
very costly.
A daisy chain is similar to a ring but the end workstations aren't connected this
means it is organised in a liner fashion.
Advantages: not much cable so it is cheap, and the data moves quickly.
Disadvantages: each workstation and cable is a possible point of failure meaning it is
not the best for a permanent network.
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LAN: this is a local area network mainly used in schools because it covers a small
area.
WAN: wide area network mainly used to connect LANS together.
PAN: personal area network such as a phone used for transmission among
devices.
MAN: metropolitan area network this interacts users with computer resources,
this covers a larger area than a Lan but smaller area than a wan.