Network Components and Topologies

Computer Network Components

Computer networks components comprise both physical parts as
well as the software required for installing computer networks,
both at organizations and at home. The hardware components
are the server, client, peer, transmission medium, and connecting
devices. The software components are operating system and
protocols.
Computer network components are the major parts which are
needed to install the software. Some important network
components are NIC, switch, cable, hub, router,
and modem. Depending on the type of network that we need to
install, some network components can also be removed. For
example, the wireless network does not require a cable.
Cables and Connectors

Cable is a transmission media used for transmitting a signal.

•Twisted pair cable

•Coaxial cable
•Fiber-optic cable
 Fiber optic cable
Fiber optic cable (also referred to as optical fiber cable) transmits data as
pulses of light through flexible, optically pure fibers of glass or plastic. It
has become a popular choice for Ethernet networking and
telecommunications applications thanks to its fast data transmission
speeds over long distances.
 Twisted-Pair Cable
A twisted pair cable comprises of two separate insulated copper wires,
which are twisted together and run in parallel. The copper wires are
typically 1mm in diameter. One of the wires is used to transmit data and
the other is the ground reference.
Reason for Twisting
All transmissions are prone to noise, interferences, and cross talks. When
the wires are twisted, some part of the noise signals is in the direction of
data signals while the other parts are in the opposite directions.
Applications of Twisted-Pair Cables
•In telephone lines
•In DSL lines
•In LANs
Types of Twisted–Pair Cables
 HOST
A host (also known as "network host") is a computer or other device
that communicates with other hosts on a network. Hosts on a network
include clients and servers -- that send or receive data, services or
applications.

Hosts typically do not include intermediary network devices

like switches and routers, which are instead often categorized
as nodes. A node is also a broader term that includes anything
connected to a network, while a host requires an IP address. In other
words, all hosts are nodes, but network nodes are not hosts unless
they require an IP address to function.
Types of IT hosts
Web host. For companies or individuals with a website, a host
is a web server that stores and transmits the
data for one or more websites. Host can also refer to the
service provider that leases this infrastructure,
which is known as hosting
Cloud host. A cloud host is based on cloud
computing technologies that allow a number of servers to act
as one system in which website performance can be
guaranteed by multiple machines. It often includes a network
of servers pulling from different data centers in different
locations.
Virtual host. The term virtual host has two uses. One refers to
the technology used to run multiple domains or applications on a
single physical server, and
the second refers to companies that sell virtual infrastructure
services.
Remote host. In this context, a remote host is in a different
physical location than the user
accessed using a private network or the internet, which provides
users with remote access. Examples include servers that can
be logged into remotely or a host computer for a remote desktop.
Communication Subnet
When a bigger network is divided into smaller networks, to
maintain security, then that is known as Subnetting
A subnetwork or subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network.The
practice of dividing a network into two or more networks is called sub
netting.
Computers that belong to the same subnet are addressed with an
identical most-significant bit-group in their IP addresses.
NIC
•NIC stands for network interface card.
•NIC is a hardware component used to connect a computer with
another computer onto a network
•It can support a transfer rate of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s.
•The MAC address or physical address is encoded on the network
card chip which is assigned by the IEEE to
• identify a network card uniquely.
•The MAC address is stored in the PROM (Programmable read-only
memory).
There are two types of NIC:
1.Wired NIC
2.Wireless NIC
Wired NIC: The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard.
Cables and connectors are used with wired NIC to transfer data.

Wireless NIC: The wireless NIC contains the antenna to obtain

the connection over the wireless network. For example, laptop
computer contains the wireless NIC.
 Hub –
A hub is a basically multi-port repeater. A hub connects multiple
wires coming from different branches, for example, the connector
in star topology which connects different stations. Hubs cannot
filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices. In
other words, the collision domain of all hosts connected through
Hub remains one. Also, they do not have the intelligence to find
out the best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies
and wastage.
Note: In the hub, data is sent to all ports but each port accepts
only that data whose destination address matches their MAC
address.
Types of Network Hubs:
Active Hub: They have a power supply for regenerating, and amplifying
the signals.
Passive Hub: Passive hubs are simply used to connect signals from
different network cables as they do not have any computerized element.
Intelligent Hub: Intelligent hubs as the name suggests are smarter than
active and passive hubs.
Features of Hubs:
Hubs are the hardware device that operates in the physical layer
of the OSI model.
•It supports half-duplex transmission
•It works with shared bandwidth and broadcasting.
•The hub can provide a high data transmission rate to different
devices.
•It can detect collisions in the network and send the jamming
signal to each port.
•Hub does not support VLAN and spanning tree protocol.
•It is unable to filter the data and hence transmit or broadcast it to
each port.
•It cannot find the best route/ shortest path to send any data,
which makes it an inefficient device.
Advantages of Network Hubs:
•Less expensive.
•Does not impact network performance.
•Support different network media.
•Easily connects with different media.
Disadvantages of Network Hubs:
•It cannot find the best/ shortest path of the network.
•No mechanism for traffic detection.
•No mechanism for data filtration.
•Not capable of connecting to different network topologies
like token, ring, ethernet, etc.
SWITCHES
Switches are networking devices operating at layer 2 or a
data link layer of the OSI model. They connect devices in a
network and use packet switching to send, receive or
forward data packets or data frames over the network.
A switch has many ports, to which computers are plugged
in. When a data frame arrives at any port of a network
switch, it examines the destination address, performs
necessary checks and sends the frame to the
corresponding device(s).It supports unicast, multicast as
well as broadcast communications.
 Features of Switches
• A switch operates in the layer 2, i.e. data link layer of the OSI model.
•It is an intelligent network device that can be conceived as a multiport network
bridge.
•It uses MAC addresses (addresses of medium access control sublayer) to send
data packets to selected destination ports.
•It uses packet switching technique to receive and forward data packets from the
source to the destination device.
•It is supports unicast (one-to-one), multicast (one-to-many) and broadcast (one-
to-all) communications.
•Transmission mode is full duplex, i.e. communication in the channel occurs in
both the directions at the same time. Due to this, collisions do not occur.
•Switches are active devices, equipped with network software and network
management capabilities.
•Switches can perform some error checking before forwarding data to the
destined port.
A router receives and sends data on computer networks. Routers are
sometimes confused with network hubs, modems, or network switches.
However, routers can combine the functions of these components, and
connect with these devices, to improve Internet access or help create
business networks.
networking devices operating at layer 3 or a network layer of the OSI model.
 Bridge
A bridge in a computer network is a device used to connect multiple
LANs together with a larger Local Area Network (LAN). The
mechanism of network aggregation is known as bridging. The bridge is a
physical or hardware device but operates at the OSI model's data link layer
and is also known as a layer of two switches.
Advantages:
•Bridges can be used as a network extension like they can connect
two network topologies together.
•It has a separate collision domain, which results in increased
bandwidth.
•It can create a buffer when different MAC protocols are there for
different segments.
•Highly reliable and maintainable. The network can be divided into
multiple LAN segments.
•Simple installation, no requirement of any extra hardware or
software except the bridge itself.
•Protocol transparency is higher as compared to other protocols.
Disadvantages:
•Expensive as compared to hubs and repeaters.
•Slow in speed.
•Poor performance as additional processing is required to view the
MAC address of the device on the network.
•As the traffic received is in bulk or is broadcasted traffic, individual
filtering of data is not possible.
•During the broadcasting of data, the network has high broadcast
traffic and broadcast storms can be formed.
uses of Bridge in Computer Network:
•Bridges are used to increase the network capacity as they can
integrate multiple LANs together.
•On receiving a data frame, databases use the bridge to decide
whether to accept or reject the data.
•In the OSI model, it can be used to transmit the data to multiple
nodes of the network.
•Used to broadcast the data even if the MAC address or
destination address is unavailable.
•It forwards data packets despite faulty nodes.
•The data packet can be forwarded or discarded by the bridge
when the MAC address is available.
Wireless Components
•Wireless Components. ...
•Access points. ...
•Wireless adapters. ...
•Transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and antenna considerations. ...
•Transmitter power. ...
•Receiver sensitivity.
 Network Topology

Network topology refers to the geometric

arrangement of links and nodes in a computing
network. Alternately, network topology may describe
how the data is transferred between these nodes.
There are two types of network topologies: physical
and logical.
 1.Bus topology

Alternatively called line topology, bus

topology is a network setup where each
computer and network device is connected to
a single cable or backbone. Depending on the
type of computer network . network cable is
used to connect them together.
Features of Bus Topology
1.It transmits data only in one direction.
2.Every device is connected to a single cable
Advantages of bus topology
• It is very simple to design.
•Require less cabling compared to other topologies.
•Each to implement for small networks.
•It is easy to expand by simply joining two cables
together.
•Very cost-effective.
Disadvantages of bus topology
•It can be difficult to identify the problems if the
whole network goes down.
•It can be hard to troubleshoot individual device
issues.
•Bus topology is not great for large networks.
•Terminators are required for both ends of the main
cable.
•Additional devices slow the network down.
•If a main cable is damaged, the network fails or
splits into two.
 2.Ring topology
Ring topology is a type of network topology in which
each device is connected to two other devices on
either side via coaxial cable. This forms a circular ring
of connected devices which gives it its name. Data is
commonly transferred in one direction along the ring,
known as a unidirectional ring.
Features of Ring Topology
1.A number of repeaters are used for Ring topology with large
number of nodes, because if someone wants to send some
data to the last node in the ring topology with 100 nodes, then
the data will have to pass through 99 nodes to reach the 100th
node. Hence to prevent data loss repeaters are used in the
network.
2.The transmission is unidirectional, but it can be made
bidirectional by having 2 connections between each Network
Node, it is called Dual Ring Topology.
3.In Dual Ring Topology, two ring networks are formed, and
data flow is in opposite direction in them. Also, if one ring fails,
the second ring can act as a backup, to keep the network up.

4.Data is transferred in a sequential manner that is bit by bit.

Data transmitted, has to pass through each node of the
network, till the destination node.
Advantages of Ring Topology
1.Transmitting network is not affected by high traffic or by
adding more nodes, as only the nodes having tokens can
transmit data.
2.Cheap to install and expand

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1.Troubleshooting is difficult in ring topology.
2.Adding or deleting the computers disturbs the network
activity.
3.Failure of one computer disturbs the whole network.
 3.Star topology
Star topology is a type of network topology in which every
device in the network is individually connected to a central
node, known as the switch or hub. When represented visually,
this topology resembles a star which gives it its name.
Advantages of star topology

•Centralized management of the network through the use

of the central computer, hub, or switch.

•Easy to add another computer to the network.

•If one computer on the network fails, the rest of the

network continues to function normally.
Disadvantages of star topology

•It may have a higher cost to implement, especially when

using a switch or router as the central network device.

•The central network device determines the performance

and number of nodes the network can handle.

•If the central computer, hub, or switch fails, the entire

network goes down, and all computers are disconnected
from the network.
4.mesh topology
A mesh topology is a network setup where each
computer and network device is interconnected with one
another. This topology setup allows for most
transmissions to be distributed even if one of the
connections goes down. It is a topology commonly used
for wireless networks.
Advantages of a mesh topology

•Manages high amounts of traffic, because multiple

devices can transmit data simultaneously.

•A failure of one device does not cause a break in the

network or transmission of data.

•Adding additional devices does not disrupt data

transmission between other devices.
Disadvantages of a mesh topology

•The cost to implement is higher than other network

topologies, making it a less desirable option.

•Building and maintaining the topology is difficult and time

consuming.

•The chance of redundant connections is high, which adds

to the high costs and potential for reduced efficiency.
5.tree topology
Tree topologies are also known as hierarchical topology,
as the root node connects all other nodes to form a
hierarchy.
This topology is known as a Star Bus topology because it
combines several star topologies into a single bus.
Advantages of Tree Topology

•It can support a large number of nodes.

•It can be easily expanded.

•Additionally, tree topologies are highly scalable and can

be easily reconfigured.
Disadvantages of Tree Topology
•It can be difficult to troubleshoot issues in a tree topology as
each node is connected to multiple other nodes. This can
make it hard to identify where the issue is located.

•Tree topology can be less reliable than other topologies such

as star or mesh as there are more potential points of failure.
If one node goes down, it can affect the entire network.

•Tree topology can be more expensive to implement as it

requires more cabling and equipment than other topologies.