Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
A topology is a spatial arrangement of stations in a computer communication network. Various
topologies are:
(i) Ring Topology
(ii) Star Topology
(iii) Bus Topology
(iv) Mesh Topology
(v) Hierarchical Topology
(vi) Hybrid Topolgy
Ring Topology
* The transmission medium is arranged in a closed loop and all the stations are
connected to it.
* The transmission medium can be a UTP Cable, co‐axial cable or optical fiber.
* A single cable may be running to all stations or two cables can be running. The
latter is called dual ring. One is used for transmission and other for reception.
* IEEE 802 standards have been described for installation of LAN ring networks.
* In the ring topology one of the stations can be given the control for managing the
ring.
* In some rings distributed control is used i.e. every station is capable of managing
the ring.
* In some network topologies the Ring works as a high speed back bone.
Following figure shows ring topology
Station 2 Station 3
Station 4
Station 1
Tx Rx Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Single Ring
Tx Rx Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Station 7 Station 7
Station 7
Station 2
Station 1
Station 3
Tx Rx
Tx Rx Tx Rx
Dual Ring
Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Tx
Rx Station 6
Station 4
Station 5
Star Topology
* A centralized switching hub is there to which all stations are connected.
* The centralized station can be a passive switch or a intelligent machine, It co‐ordinates
the operation of the network
* The topology is useful for LAN and WAN implementation.
* Failure of central station results in falling apart of the network. To avoid such problems
standby central station is maintained.
Station
2 Station
3
Station
1
Station
4
Central
Station
Station
5
Station
6
Star Topology
Bus Topology
* A transmission link of UTP cable, co‐axial cable or fiber optic cable runs from one
end to other. This is called Bus.
* All stations are connected to bus.
* Bus can be single or dual. In dual bus one link is used for transmission and other for
reception.
* Adding new stations and expansion of bus is easy.
* Like Ring and Star topologies Bus topology is suitable for LAN implementation.
* Bus topology can be used as a high speed back bone network for some network
implementation.
* Ethernet is an example of Bus Topology.
Station 5
Station 5
Station 5
Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Tx Rx
Bus Topology
Tx
Rx Tx Rx
Station 5 Station 5
Mesh Topology
• Stations are connected in a mesh arrangement.
• Suitable for Metropolitan and Wide area Networks.
• Expansion of the network is easy and simple.
• There are alternative routes available from one station to another,
• Failure of station or any link does not affect the network operations
S2
S13
S1
S6
S9
S7
S12
S3 S5
S10
S4
S8
S11
Mesh Topology
Hierarchical Topology
• This is also known as Tree Topology.
• Stations are arranged in hierarchical levels.
• All Public switched Telephone Network use this Topology.
• This Topology facilitates expansion.
• Failure of a station or link may isolate the region from network. However this can be
avoided by providing alternative links.
Hierarchical or Tree Topology
S
S
S
S
S
S
Level 1
S S S
S S
Level 2 S
S
S
S
S
Level 3
S
Hybrid or Mixed Topology
• Depending on the requirements different topologies are mixed to implement a network
in an organization, e.g A ring or Bus topology of some nodes can be implemented as a
high speed back bone network in an educational institution or a hospital and star
topology can be implemented in individual departments.
• Hybrid topology is useful for LAN and Metropolitan area networks.
• Expansion of the network is easy.
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S S
Back Bone Bus
S
S S
S S S S
S S S
S S
Hybrid of Bus and Star