LESSON SEVENTEEN

COMPUTER NETWORKS
PART THREE
TOPIC RATIONALE
Advances made in Information and Communication Technology has not only seen the advent of
telecommunication networks such as telephone networks and media networks but also computer
networks.
Therefore, this topic introduces the learner to the concept of computer networks and what constitutes
them. The topic consists of four (4) lessons – ‘Introduction to Computer Networks’, ‘Types of Computer
Network Hardware and Software’, ‘Types of Computer Network Topologies’ and ‘Types of Computer
Networks’.
Lesson three introduces the learner to the concept on types of computer network topologies.
LESSON TWO OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes: During the course of this lesson you will …
1. Define topology.
2. Identify and explain the seven types of computer network topologies.
3. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of each computer network topology.
4. Differentiate one computer network topology from the other.
COMPUTER NETWORKS LESSON 3 – TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORK TOPOLOGIES.

TOPOLOGIES
The word ‘topology’ refers to
 The way in which different parts are interrelated or arranged.
Therefore, computer network topology is a pictorial (visual) description of a network arrangement
connecting various computers known as ‘nodes’, ‘workstation’ or ‘client’ (sender and receiver) and ICT
devices through lines of connection.
A network topology looks at the way computers and other network devices are connected together in a
particular arrangement.
There are seven basic types of network topologies

a. Bus or linear topology

Consists of a single cable with the terminator at each end. All present nodes are connected to the
single cable. There is no limit to the no: of nodes that can be attached to this network. One of the
nodes acts as the server and transmits the data from one end to the other in a single direction. When
the data reaches the extreme end, the terminator removes the data from the line.
i. Advantages:
- Easy to connect or remove devices in a network without affecting any other device.
- In case of any computer or device failure, there will be no effect on other devices or network.
- Cable cost is less as compared to other network topology for example mesh and star.
- It is easy to understand topology.
- Easy to expand by joining two cables together
ii. Disadvantages:
- In the case of any device failure, it is difficult to find faults in a network.
- If the backbone cable damages the entire system/network will fail.
- If network traffic increases or devices increase, the performance of the network decreases.
- Proper termination is required to prevent bouncing of signals. The use of terminators is a
must.
- It is slower because one computer transmits at a time.
- It provides very low security because all the computers receive the sent signal from the source.
- The length of cable is limited

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b. Star 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.
i. Advantages:
- Easy to manage and maintain the network because each node require separate cable.
- Easy to locate problems because cable failure only affect a single user.
- Easy to extend the network without disturbing to the entire network
- Due to Hub device network control and management is much easier.
- Fault identification and removing nodes in a network is easy.
- It provides very high speed of data transfer.
ii. Disadvantages:
- Entire performance of the network depends on the single device hub.
- If the hub device goes down, the entire network will be dead.
- Star topology requires more wires compared to the ring and bus topology.

c. Ring topology

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 Each device/node is connected with its neighbouring node forming the shape of ring hence it is known
as Ring Topology. In ring topology the data circulate from one computer to another. The flow of the
data in ring topology can be unidirectional or bi-directional.
i. Advantages:
- Flow of data is in circular direction which minimizes the chance of packet collision.
- The unidirectional ring topology provides very high speed.
- It has better performance than bus topology, even when the nodes are increased.
- Ring network can handle high volume of nodes in a network (Robust).It can handle heavy
traffic as compared to bus topology due to Token passing principal.
- Ring topology provides good communication over a long distance.
- The maintenance of ring network is much easier compared to the bus network.
- There is no need of network server to control the flow of data.
- Troubleshooting in ring network is much easier because cable faults can be easily located.
- Ring network is less costly compared to the other topologies for example (mesh, hybrid, and
tree topology).
ii. Disadvantages:
- A single break in the cable can cause disturbance in the entire network
- In unidirectional Ring, a data packet (token) must pass through all the nodes.
- Addition and removal of any node in a network is difficult and can cause issue in network
activity.
- Ring network is much slower than Ethernet network
- Under normal load conditions.

d. Tree or hierarchical topology

All the nodes are connected like the branches of a tree. In Computer Networking, tree topology is
known as a combination of a Bus and Start network topology. It is the simplest topology in which
only one route exists between any two nodes on the network. The pattern of connection resembles
a tree in which all branches spring from one root hence Tree network topology.
i. Advantages:
- It is a combination of bus and star topology.
- It provides high scalability, as leaf nodes can add more nodes in the hierarchical chain.
- Other nodes in a network are not affected, if one of their nodes get damaged.
- It provides easy maintenance and fault identification.
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 - Supported by several hardware and software vendors.
- Point to point wiring for individual segments.
ii. Disadvantages:
- Large cabling is required as compared to star and bus topology.
- On the failure of a hub, the entire network fails.
- Tree network is very difficult to configure than other network topologies.

e. Mesh or fully connected topology

All the computers are inter-connected to each other in a network. Each computer not only sends its
own signals but also relays data from other computers. Every node has a point-to-point connection
to the other node. The connections in the mesh topology can be wired or wireless.
i. Advantages:
- There is no traffic problem as there are dedicated point to point links for each computer.
- It has multiple links, so if one route is blocked then other can be accessed for data
communication.
- It provides high privacy and security.
- Fault identification is easy because of point-to-point connection.
ii. Disadvantages:
- Mesh topology requires high number of cables and input-output (I/O) ports for the
communication.
- Installation is very difficult in mesh topology, as each node is connected to every node.
- Mesh topology is costly compared to the other network topologies for instance star, bus and
point-to-point.

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f. Point-to-point topology

It is the simplest topology that connects two nodes directly together with a common link. The point-
to-point connections use an actual length of wire or cable to connect the two ends, but other options,
such as satellite links or microwaves are also possible.
When you change TV channels by remote, you are establishing a point-to-point connection between
the remote control and the TV’s control system.
i. Advantages:
- Highest Bandwidth because there is only two nodes having entire bandwidth of a link.
- Very fast compared to other network topologies because it can access only two nodes.
- Very simple connectivity.
- It provides low delay.
- Easy to handle and maintain.
- Node Can be Replaced in few seconds
ii. Disadvantages:
- This topology is only used for small areas where nodes are closely located.
- The entire network depends on the common channel in case of link broken entire network
will become dead.
- There is another major drawback of this topology there are only two nodes if any of the node
stops working, data cannot be transfer across the network.

g. Hybrid topology

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 A network structure that contains more than two topologies is known as hybrid topology. The hybrid
network topology includes a mix of bus topology, mesh topology, ring topology, star topology and
tree topology. Hybrid topology is a combination of more than two topologies.
It inherits the advantages and disadvantages of included topologies.
Class exercise 1
Study the image below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) What type of computer network topology is the above? [1]

(b) Which type of computer network uses this type of topology named in (a). [2]
(c) Identify the type of sub-topologies used to create the topology named in (a). [3]
(d) List two advantages and two disadvantages of the topology named in (a). [4]

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Class exercise 2
Christabel S. Namutenda setup the network shown below to control all her devices from a central point.
Study the network that she setup and answer the questions that follow.

(a) What is the name of the network she setup above. [1]
(b) Identify the topology used in the network. [1]
(c) Identify the type of connection she used to setup her network. [1]
(d) Her network transmits 16Kb of data per second. How many characters are transmitted
in two seconds? [2]
Class exercise 3
Mukuka Makumba owns a Samsung A72 smartphone while Natasha Kafusha has an IPhone 12.
They both want to exchange songs sung by Macky 2 using their smartphones.
(a) In which way must Mukuka Makumba and Natasha Kafusha connect for their phones
to exchange songs. [2]
(b) What type of technology was used to create the connection named in (a). [2]
(c) When the two phones connected, what kind of network topology was formed? [2]
(d) Why is the topology named in (c) regarded a peer-to-peer computer network. [4]

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