Different Network Components & Network Communication

Networks communicate through tcp/ip, these are different protocols that enables networks communicate efficiently. TCP stands for Transmission Control Point and IP stands for Internet Protocol. This allows computers connect to one another to be able to transmit data.

Different types of networks

There are multiple different types of networks, the most common are LAN which is Local Access network and WAN which is Wide Area Network.

Wide Area Network

Wide Area network is usually used for connecting computers that are spread out over a wide area. WANS can be used to connect cities, states or even countries computers together to access and share data. Furthermore Businesses, Schools and Government Buildings use WAN to relay data to staff, students, buyers and product suppliers from all over the world. The largest WAN is the internet due to it being all over the worldThis is a diagram of WAN in a star topology.

Local Area Network

A local area network (LAN) is normally a computer network that spans across a reasonably small area. In most cases LAN is normally restricted to one room, one building or a group of building’s. Another type of Lan is WLAN which is a abbreviation for Wireless Local Area Network which is the same as LAN but on the other hand LAN can be connected to other LANS over any given distance through telephone lines and radio waves. Wireless Devices connected to it, however WLAN can also be wired as well as wireless but WLAN is more versatile because it can be wired as well as wireless. This an example of a Local Access Network, this LAN example is in a Bus Topology.

Parts of a LAN

PCs/workstations and servers: this is in most network systems and most common in LAN.

Network Interface Card (NIC): this allows a computer system to connect to the internet. LAN also included a Hub, concentrator, and more complicated network devices such as Bridge, LAN Switch and Router. Lastly you can spot a lan connection by as they’re all sharing common communication line or a wireless link to a individual server.

Network Topologies

There multiple types of Network Topologies such as Bus, Star, Tree and ring. There is many more but these are the selected ones i have been told to explain.

Bus

What exactly is bus? Bus is a network topology where nodes are connected to a main cable or link. Where is bus commonly used? A bus topology is most commonly used in small workgroups and commonly used in LAN which is a abbreviation for Local Access Network. However Bus topologies are also used as a backbone of a network by connected switches and routers to make a whole campu-wide network such as colleges and universities. One of the main functions of bus is to enable devices and systems to all connect to one main link and share data via network, and be able to be accessed through the internet. This is a example of a Bus topology. As you can see nodes are all leading off one main line/link. What is a node?

A node is a specific point of connection or intersection. This allows all devices connected accessible through the network. Devices connected to a Bus Topology are called nodes.

Advantages of Bus

• One advantage of bus is that it is very easy to change and also very easy to connect new nodes to one link or main cable therefore expanding the bus topology.
• Another advantage of BUS is that it is much cheaper than any other topologies in the market but still works the same
• Another advantage is that bus works extremely well for small networks.
• Also if one node ( specific point of connection) fails it doesn't affect the other nodes on the link.
• Lastly it is easily able to connect cables.

Disadvantages of BUS

One major disadvantage of BUS comparing to other topologies is although its cheap if there's one single break at any point of the main cable the whole network would be shutdown until fixed.

• Another disadvantage is that if a break does happen it's much harder to find the break due to length.
• Bus topologies are only really suitable in small buildings and networks.
• Lastly another disadvantage is that there is large amounts of packet collisions, this leading to high amounts of packet loss.

Star network topology

A star topology is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all nodes are individually connected to a central connection point, like a hub or a switch. What does Star network topology look like? As you can see it is shaped like a star as suggested by the name. In a star topology the center is the hub or switch and all other devices around it are all connected to the same center point. What is a switch or a hub? Well a hub and a switch is just a device that is the center point of connection in topologies and handles data called frames which frames carry your data.

Advantages of STAR

One advantage of STAR is that it’s very easy to connect new systems or devices.

• Also it it very easy to detect failure unlike bus.
• Furthermore Star has another advantage which is no data collisions can occur so therefore not packets can be lost.
• STAR is very easy to install and wire but also if one node fails/shutdowns due to a faulty only that node will be shutdown and all other nodes can remain up.
• Lastly with the centralized point of connection e.g, the switch/hub is that its very easy to monitor the network.

Disadvantages of STAR

• One disadvantage of star is that it requires more cables and longer lengths than other topologies for example BUS.
• Another disadvantage is that if a hub or switch shuts down or fails all devices connected are shutdown and cannot be used.
• Compared to BUS star is way more expensive for the topology due to the extra attachments and also the faster speeds and no data collisions.

Ring Topology

What is a ring topology? A ring topology is a type of topology which allows each individual node to connect to each other enabling data to pass through each node to perform a ring shape until it gets back to the starter nodeThis is a example of a ring topology as you can see the data rotates from system passing data through.

Advantages of Ring

One advantage of ring is that because all data being passing through are all going same direction around this decreases the amount of collisions massively.

• Another advantage is that ring topology has really fast and high speeds enabled for more things be done faster.
• One more major advantage is that a network server isn't required to control the overall network connection between systems, but also you are able to add more nodes without damaging performance of the other nodes already involved.

Disadvantages of Ring

One disadvantage is if one node requires data it has to pass through every node just to reach the node requiring data which equals to slower speeds.

• Furthermore another disadvantage is that if one node shuts dqn than the entire ring of nodes will have to be shut down because it will break the cycle of data passing through.
• Lastly the official cost to set one off these ring topologies up costs a larger price due to the extra hardware unlike Bus and star which requires less expensive hardware to operate.

Tree Topology

What is a tree topology? A tree topology is a type of network that is a mixture of star and bus network including star like nodes connected to a main cable or link like bus. Enabling the possibility of expansion of already existing networks. As you can see in this diagram there are multiple nodes connected to one main link and off them nodes are other nodes branching off to make the star topology as well as the bus.

Advantages of Tree topology

One advantage of a tree topology is that it allows individual segments.

• Tree topology is supported by hardware vendors.
• Also the communication between two or more devices in the topology is better and more effective.
• Lastly tree topology is more efficient and quicker to find errors and faults compared to other topologies.

Disadvantages of Tree Topology

One disadvantage of Tree is that huge cabling in needed to work efficiently.

• Another disadvantage is that to run Tree topologies is correctly it will require a lot of maintenance to keep working to the best of its ability.
• Lastly a lot of faults can occur using Tree such as collisions.