Network Types and Topologies
Types of Networks ? Physical
Peer-To-Peer
On a peer-to-peer network
the computers can act as the client or the server, this basically means that any
computer can access the others resources when it needs to or chooses to do so.
Quick characteristics of
this network:
- No
centralized server exists
- Computers
can be client or server
- Security
is an issue on this type of network
- Best
suited for small networks (10 or fewer computers)
- The easiest and cheapest to install
Client Server
Also known as
?Server-Based?. This network
uses a special computer(s) referred to as servers to house and share resources.
A server?s sole purpose is to authenticate (allow login) and provide
resources to a client. Specialized software and hardware is used on the server.
Quick characteristics of
this network:
- Designed
to support many users
- More
secure, users must have an ID and password to gain access
- Servers
are designed to handle multiple request
- Provides
a centralized location for resources
- Great
for large number of computers
Types
of Networks ? By Topology
Star
Computers are networked
(connected) together using a central hub/switch. Each computer on the network transmits directly to the hub;
the hub then sends the transmission to the computer it is addressed to.
The star network can be implemented using twisted pair (10baseT or
100baseT) cabling a hub/switch. All
computers must be attached to the hub in order to transmit.
This the most popular type of network used today.
Quick characteristics of
this network:
- Easy
to troubleshoot and locate cable breaks
- Easy
to add new computers to the network, just plug into the hub/switch
- Uses
more cabling
- Since
it is centralized, if hub fails the entire network will go down
Bus
Consists of a single
cable to which all computers are attached.
All of the computers are daisy-chained to each other.
This is a common network for peer-to-peer.
The media required to implement a bus would be Thinnet (10base2) cabling,
BNC ?T-connectors? and 50-ohm terminators.
The bus is also, referred to as a linear (straight line) bus.
Quick characteristics of
this network:
- Fast
and simple to setup
- Requires
very little hardware
- Best
for small networks
- Problems
can bring down the entire network
Ring
Similar to the star, in
this topology the data line actually forms a logical ring to which all the
computers are attached. This
topology uses what is referred to as ?Token Passing? to transmit data.
Each computer on the network gets to access the token and use it to
transmit its data. The token flows
in a continuous circle. This
topology is commonly used with IBM?s Token Ring Networks.
Mesh
This topology is a
combination of the above networks and is common on very large networks where
fault tolerance is needed (guard against failure). Essentially, the computers are connected to each other, this
requires a significant amount of cabling and is very difficult to install.
Wireless
Computers using this type of network topology are not restricted by cables but transmits data and shares resources over radio waves, hence the term wireless. A wireless transceiver (network card) is attached each computer on the network and an wireless ?Access Point? is used to bridge the signal back to a server or wired back bone. Whether you are part of the mobile workforce of a large corporation or you are the average Joe using your home network, the advantage is "No Wires".
** This Guide is a work in progress will be added to throughout the year **