IT273 - Network Topologies, Devices, and Models Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of network topologies, exploring the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of bus, ring, mesh, and tree topologies. It delves into the functionalities of various network devices, including routers, hubs, and switches, and clarifies their roles within the OSI model. The report further evaluates the TCP/IP and OSI models, highlighting their similarities and differences to provide a clear understanding of their applications in network architecture. The content includes detailed comparisons, real-world examples, and a discussion of the most practical network topology choices for various customer scenarios, offering a robust understanding of network design and implementation. The report also discusses the application of each model and network devices in the workplace.

Network Topologies

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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Table of Contents
Network Topology.................................................................................................................................2
Differences between network topologies..............................................................................................2
The benefits and limitations of the various network topologies...........................................................4
Bus topology......................................................................................................................................4
Advantages....................................................................................................................................4
Disadvantages................................................................................................................................4
Ring topology.....................................................................................................................................5
Advantages....................................................................................................................................5
Disadvantages................................................................................................................................5
Mesh Topology..................................................................................................................................5
Advantages....................................................................................................................................5
Disadvantages................................................................................................................................5
Tree topology....................................................................................................................................5
Advantages....................................................................................................................................5
Disadvantages................................................................................................................................6
Various network devices that will be seen in the topology...................................................................6
Routers..............................................................................................................................................6
Hub....................................................................................................................................................7
Switches.............................................................................................................................................7
Difference between Hub and switch.................................................................................................8
The TCP/IP model and OSI model..........................................................................................................8
References...........................................................................................................................................10

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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Network Topology
A network topology is defined as a physical layout of a computer network in
which two or more computer nodes are connected to each other. It provides a platform
to interconnect computer networks and topology refer as a process that describes how
the data or information is transmitted between nodes (Al-Sultan, Al-Doori, Al-Bayatti, &
Zedan 2014). The main purpose of this report is to describe the various kinds of
network topologies and their advantages and disadvantages. There are mainly two
types of network topologies used in information technology, for example, physical and
logical. Physical topology emphasizes two or more communicating devices with nodes
and the logical topology focuses on the shape of the data transmission process.
Differences between network topologies
There are many types of network topologies used in computer systems which are
described below:
 Bus topology
 Ring topology
 STAR topology
 MESH topology
 TREE topology
 HYBRID topology
Top
olog
y
Architecture Routing
methods
Complex
ity
Expansio
n
Reliability cost Cabling
concer
ns
Secur
ity

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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Star In this type
of process,
the nodes of
the network
are
interconnect
ed to a main
central node.
In which
all data
transfer
by the
central
network
system
Very
simple
and easy
For
connectio
n, a new
computer
is
required
More
reliable
More
costly
Uses
twisted
pair
data
cables
DOS
attack
Bus In this type
of topology,
only a single
bus is used
to connect
two or more
nodes
One
computer
device
transfer
data at a
time.
Very
simplest
for the
LAN
To add
other
periphera
l devices
people
should
shut
down the
devices
and
remove
all data
cables
Less
reliability
Very
cheap
A
single
cable is
used
Less
secur
e
Ring In which
each
computer
node is
connected
with two
branches
Data is
transferre
d into
only one
direction
Used for
LANs
The
connectio
n
between
node
must be
removed
to add
computer
system
Large
reliability
More
expansiv
e
Needs
numbe
rs of
data
cables
Less
secur
e
Mes In this type
of topologies
Can be
used for
Used for
WANs
Connectio
n systems
Troublesho
oting is
Very
expensiv
Cabling
depend
More
secur

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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h minimum,
two nodes
are
connected
with each
other in
different
paths
long
distance
communi
cation
make
combinin
g various
types of
networks
more
difficult in
this
process
e s upon
the
type of
networ
k
devices
e
The benefits and limitations of the various network topologies
There are various kinds of advantages and disadvantages of network topologies
which are described below:
Figure: network topologies
(Source: Diebold, & Yılmaz, 2014)
Bus topology
Advantages
 It is very less in cost
 Fewer data cables are required
 Very cheap to understand
 Very easy to connect two or more cables (Betzel, Gu, Medaglia, Pasqualetti, &
Bassett, 2016).

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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Disadvantages
 If any cable fails then the whole computer network also fails
 Performance can be decreased if any traffic signals occur
 The lengths of wires are very limited
 Very slow process (Diebold, & Yılmaz, 2014).
Ring topology
Advantages
 The communication system is not affected by any malware signals
 Easy to install and expand
 Take less time during the configuration process
 Very easy for implementation
Disadvantages
 Troubleshooting is very complex in this topology
 Adding and removing the devices distributes the network activity
 One computer depend upon another network
 Very limited (Gal, et al., 2017).
Mesh Topology
Advantages
 This is a robust process
 The fault is diagnosed very easily
 More secure and private
 Reduced distortion and other losses
Disadvantages
 Installation is very difficult
 The costs of data cables are very high
 Numbers of connecting wires are needed
 Configuration is very difficult

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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Tree topology
Advantages
 Extension of star and bus network topologies
 Very easy to manage
 Can be used for error detection
 Expansion of nodes is very easy
Disadvantages
 Very costly
 For large networks, the maintenance is very complex
 If the central node fails then the whole network also fails
 Heavily cabled
Various network devices that will be seen in the topology
There are different types of network devices are used during the network topologies
that are operated on the OSI model layer. Following kinds of devices are used:
 Routers
 Hubs
 Switches
 Network interface card
Routers
It is defined as a network device which is used to form the routing of signals from
one device to another. It is operated in the field of OSI model and also called as network
layer device that generally transfers data packets from one network to another. In
router every packet have a unique IP address that makes it very simple for the process
of routing to send data from one location to another (Toju, Guimarães, Olesen, &
Thompson 2015).
Figure: Router

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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(Source: Toju, et al., 2015)
Hub
A network hub is a kind of computer device which is utilized to interconnect two
or more network hosts at a time. The main application of the hub in the communication
system is that it can be used for data transfer and data is sent in the form of packets. It is
very less secure due to which user’s personal data can be lost.
Figure: Hub
(Source: Toju, et al., 2015)
Switches
This type of network device is used at the time of data-link that is a 2nd layer in
the OSI model and the main purpose of this device is to identify the MAC address of the
computer system. Moreover, the switch is a physical layer which is developed to
produce the connection between two or more peripheral devices.
Figure: Switch

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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(Source: Toju, et al., 2015)
Difference between Hub and switch
Device Hub Switch
Layer Physical layer Data link layer
Function To interconnect a network
of the private computer
together
To interconnect multiple
computers at a time
Data transmission form Electrical signals Frame and packets
Ports 4/12 24/48
The TCP/IP model and OSI model
TCP model is a very common type of network protocol which is used in all
internet operations but it does not use all the layers of the OSI model. In which the host
to host layer is equivalent to the OSI layer and the application layer is very similar to the
5, 6, and 7 OSI layer.
Figure: TCP Vs OSI model

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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(Source: Diebold, & Yılmaz, 2014)
OSI is defined as a network protocol which is an independent process that
provides communication between the network and the consumers. It follows the
vertical approach but the TCP model use a horizontal approach (Liu, Pellegrini, & Wang,
2014).
Figure: the difference between OSI and TCP/IP model
(Source: Diebold, & Yılmaz, 2014)
In which the three upper layers such as application, presentation, and session
map to the application layer of TCP/IP. The bottom layer of OSI model (physical and

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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data link) are mapped with the network access layer of TCP/IP with the help of internet
and the network layer is similar to the IP layer of TCP (Shine, Koyejo, & Poldrack, 2016).
People can use the TCP/IP model in their network system because it has the ability to
reduce the security-related issues and threats and it is more effective rather than OSI.

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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References
Al-Sultan, S., Al-Doori, M. M., Al-Bayatti, A. H., & Zedan, H. (2014). A comprehensive
survey on vehicular ad hoc network. Journal of network and computer
applications, 37(4), 380-392.
Betzel, R. F., Gu, S., Medaglia, J. D., Pasqualetti, F., & Bassett, D. S. (2016). Optimally
controlling the human connectome: the role of network topology. Scientific
reports, 6(2), 30770.
Diebold, F. X., & Yılmaz, K. (2014). On the network topology of variance decompositions:
Measuring the connectedness of financial firms. Journal of Econometrics, 182(1),
119-134.
Gal, E., London, M., Globerson, A., Ramaswamy, S., Reimann, M. W., Muller, E., ... & Segev,
I. (2017). Rich cell-type-specific network topology in neocortical
microcircuitry. Nature Neuroscience, 20(7), 1004.
Liu, W., Pellegrini, M., & Wang, X. (2014). Detecting communities based on network
topology. Scientific reports, 4, 5739.
Shine, J. M., Koyejo, O., & Poldrack, R. A. (2016). Temporal metastases are associated
with differential patterns of time-resolved connectivity, network topology, and
attention. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(35), 9888-9891.
Toju, H., Guimarães, P. R., Olesen, J. M., & Thompson, J. N. (2015). Below-ground plant–
fungus network topology is not congruent with above-ground plant-animal
network topology. Science advances, 1(9), e1500291.