1. Network Design Essentials

2. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition2 Contents 1. Examining the Basics of a Network Layout 2. Understanding Standard Topologies 3. Examining Variations of Physical Topologies 4. Hubs and Switches 5. Constructing a Network Layout

3. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition3 1. Examining the Basics of a Network Layout To implement a network, you must first decide how to best situate the components in a topology –Topology refers to the physical layout of its computers, cables, and other resources, and also to how those components communicate with each other The arrangement of cabling is the physical topology The path that data travels between computers on a network is the logical topology –Topology has a significant effect on the network’s performance and growth, and equipment decisions

4. 2. Understanding Standard Topologies 2.1. Physical Bus Topology 2.2. Logical Bus Topology 2.3. Physical Ring Topology 2.4. Logical Ring Topology 2.5. Physical Star Topology 2.6. Wireless Topologies Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition4

5. 5 Networks are based on three physical topologies –A bus consists of a series of computers connected along a single cable segment –Computers connected via a central concentration point (hub) are arranged in a star topology –Computers connected to form a loop create a ring Physical topologies describe cable arrangement –How the data travels along those cables might represent a different logical topology The logical topologies that dominate LANs include bus, ring, and switching, all of which are usually implemented as a physical star

6. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition6 2.1. Physical Bus Topology Low fault tolerance

7. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition7 2.1.1. Signal Propagation Computers communicate by sending information across the media as a series of signals –In a typical (copper wire) physical bus, those signals are sent as electrical pulses that travel along the length of the cable in all directions –The signals continue to travel until they weaken enough so as not to be detectable or until they encounter a device that absorbs them –This traveling across the medium is called signal propagation At the end of a cable, the signal bounces back

8. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition8 2.1.2. Signal Bounce

9. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition9 2.1.3. Cable Termination

10. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition10 2.1.4. Cable Failure

11. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition11 2.2. Logical Bus Topology Logical topologies describe the path that data travels from computer to computer A physical bus topology is almost always implemented as a logical bus as well –Technology has moved past the physical bus, but a logical bus topology is still in use on some physical topologies, in particular a star All computers communicate in the same way –They address data to one or more computers and then transmit that data across the cable in the form of electronic signals

12. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition12 Sending the Signal When a computer has data to send, it addresses that data, breaks it into manageable chunks, and sends it across the network as electronic signals –All computers on a logical bus receive them Only the destination accepts the data All users must share the available amount of transmission time –Thus, network performance is reduced A bus topology is a passive topology –In an active topology network, computers and other devices regenerate signals and are responsible for moving data through the network

13. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition13 2.3. Physical Ring Topology

14. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition14 2.4. Logical Ring Topology Data in a logical ring topology travels from one device, or node, on the network to the next device until the data reaches its destination –Token passing is one method for sending data around a ring Modern logical ring topologies use “smart hubs” that recognize a computer’s failure and remove the computer from the ring automatically An advantage of the ring topology lies in its capability to share network resources fairly

15. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition15 2.5. Physical Star Topology

16. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition16 2.5.1. A Logical Bus Implemented as a Physical Star

17. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition17 2.5.2. A Logical Ring Implemented as a Physical Star

18. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition18 2.5.3. Switching Implemented as a Physical Star Switching is neither a bus nor a ring logically, but is always implemented as a physical star –A switch takes a signal coming from a device connected and builds a circuit on the fly to forward the signal to the intended destination computer –Superior to other logical topologies because, unlike bus and ring, multiple computers can communicate simultaneously without affecting each other –Dominant method used in almost every LAN design

19. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition19 2.6. Wireless Topologies Wireless networking has a logical and physical topology –Ad hoc topology: two computers can communicate directly with one another; sometimes called a peer- to-peer topology –Infrastructure mode: Use a central device, called an access point (AP), to control communications Star physical topology because all the signals travel through one central device Logical bus topology

20. 3. Examining Variations of Physical Topologies 3.1. Extended Star Topology 3.2. Mesh Topology 3.3. Combination Star Bus Topology Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition20

21. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition21 The major physical topologies have three typical variations or combinations –Extended star –Mesh –Combination star and bus These combinations can be used to get the most from any network

22. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition22 3.1. Extended Star Topology

23. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition23 3.2. Mesh Topology

24. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition24 3.3. Combination Star Bus Topology

25. 4. Hubs and Switches 4.1. Hubs 4.2. Switches Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition25

26. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition26 Both hubs and switches can act as the center of a star topology Basic operation was discussed briefly; this section expands on them

27. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition27 4.1. Hubs In everyday use, a hub is “the center of activity” –This definition is appropriate in network usage also In network usage, there are a number of variations on this central theme –Active hub –Passive hub –Repeating hub (just a type of active hub) –Switching hub

28. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition28 4.1.1. Active Hubs Most common type of hub today Regenerate, or repeat, the signals –Require electrical power to run Generally, have many ports—eight or more Also called multiport repeaters or repeating hubs 1.Takes a signal coming in on one port 2.Cleans the signal (e.g., by filtering out noise) 3.Strengthens the signal 4.Sends the regenerated signal out to all other ports Drawback: require sharing the cable bandwidth among all connected stations

29. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition29 4.1.2. Passive Hubs

30. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition30 4.2. Switches Central connecting point in a star topology network Does more than simply regenerate signals Looks just like a hub, with several ports for connecting workstations in a star topology Determines to which port the destination device is connected and forwards the message to that port –This capability allows a switch to handle several conversations at one time, thereby providing the full network bandwidth to each device rather than requiring bandwidth sharing

31. 5. Constructing a Network Layout 5.1. Selecting a Topology 5.2. Creating the Layout Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition31

32. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition32 The first step in any network design is to evaluate the underlying requirements –First determine how the network will be used, which often decides the topology you use –Decide the types of devices for interconnecting computers and sites –Finally, the type and usage level of network resources dictates how many servers you need and where to place servers

33. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition33 5.1. Selecting a Topology Most new network designs come down to only one choice: How fast should the network be? The physical topology will certainly be a star, and the logical topology is almost always switching Ethernet switches are typically used on a LAN, but you might consider other logical topologies for other reasons: –Use of legacy equipment –Network size –Cost restrictions –Difficulty to run cables

34. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition34 5.2. Creating the Layout Network must be documented –Useful questions before drawing the diagram How many client computers will be attached? How many servers will be attached? Will there be a connection to the Internet? How will the building’s physical architecture influence decisions, such as whether to use a wired or wireless topology, or both? Which topology or topologies will you use? –Network diagram must be kept up to date

35. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition35

36. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition36 Summary Basic physical topologies: bus, star, or ring –Physical bus: easy to install but outdated The logical bus topology is still used, but is almost always implemented as a physical star –Physical ring: connects devices in such a way that the cabling starts and ends with the same computer Rarely used (except in FDDI) Logical ring topology typically uses token passing to send data around ring; normally implemented as a star –Physical star: centralized management and higher degree of fault tolerance Topology of choice in today’s networks

37. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition37 For wireless networks: ad hoc or infrastructure mode Variations on major topologies –Extended star (most widely used) –Mesh (most fault tolerant) –Combination star and bus Hub: central point of concentration for a star network –Can be active (if it regenerates the signals) or passive Switch: provides better performance than a hub –Device of choice in corporate star topology networks Network layout should be consistent and maintained accurately as the network changes

38. Chapter Summary Networks build upon one of three basic topologies Bus topology is easy to install but is outdated topology not used for new installations Star topology offers centralized management and higher degree of fault tolerance since single cable or computer failure does not affect rest of network Star topology is topology choice for today’s networks Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition38

39. Ring topology offers computers equal time on network, but network performance degrades when more computers are added Hub, a central point of concentration for star network, passes electronic signals to network Active hub regenerates signals Passive hub simply passes signals along Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition39

40. Switch offers greater bandwidth and intelligence, providing significant performance advantages over hubs Switches have become device of choice in corporate star topology networks Variations on major topologies allow greater fault tolerance and flexibility Mesh is most fault tolerant of all network topologies, allowing every computer to communicate with every other computer Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition40

41. Star bus or star ring combines centralized management of star and best of bus and ring topologies Network layout should be consistent with existing network and accurately maintained as network changes Many third-party tools can assist in design and maintenance Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition41

42. Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition42

43. Bus43

44. Star44

45. Extended Star45

46. Ring46

47. Mesh 47