Networks and topology

Networks and topology

1. Topology

   • Shape, layout or structure of the connections that connect a device to the LAN
   • Bus topology
     • All computers connected to a linear transmission medium
       • Segmentation
         • Bus networks are often split into segmens, because each computer added to the network increases collisions. A segment is one string of computers, connected by bridges or routers. A bridge contains a table of addresses of the ethernet interface cards of the computers in the network. A router holds a table of IP addresses of the computers and users in the network
   • Star topology
     • All nodes connected to a central switch
   • Comparison of star and bus networks
     • Star: each client is connected directly to the other without passing the other computers so is hence more secure from eavesdropping. Bus:if the cable breaks, the whole network breaks Star: if the central switch stops working, the whole network stops working.

2. Network adapter

   • A computer communicates on the network using a network adapter. The data is received from the motherboard using parallel transmission into the buffer, as a block. The block is given a checksum,source address, and destination address. The data is called a frame, and is sent along the transmission medium using serial data transmission

3. Thin client network

   • A network where all the processing takes place in a central server, the clients are dumb terminals with little or no processing power or local hard disk storage

4. Peer to peer network

   • No dedicated server, every computer is equal.