Chapter 7: Topologies and Access Methods

Chapter 7: Topologies and Access Methods

Local Area Network Topologies

In a simple local area network, the relatively short distance spanned, the high bandwidth provided, and the low-cost media used create an operating environment where ?bandwidth is cheap,? a substantial contrast to the traditional telephone network environment. An important consequence of these differing environments is that there are radical differences between the network topology (and the routing of traffic) used in each. As local area networks grow to span campuses and to interconnect networks, these differences diminish, as will be discussed in future chapters. However, for the moment, the simpler cases will be considered.

While a telephone network is usually a mesh with links placed between nodes according to traffic and cost, a simple local area network usually has a very regular form that is either a star (Figure 7-1), a ring (Figure 7-2 ), a bus (Figure 7-3 ), or a hierarchy of trees (Figure 7-4 ).

Figure 7-1: Star Topology

Figure 7-2: Ring Topology

Figure 7-3: Bus Topology

Figure 7-4: Hierarchy of Trees Topology

Further, while the nodes of a telephone network route traffic according to complex rules, most nodes of a simple local area network do very little (if any) routing. Each topology is best suited to particular media types, has an optimum routing strategy, and has identifiable reliability characteristics.

The Star

The star is a convenient topology because it permits exceptionally easy routing; the central node knows the path...

< Previous Excerpt Next Excerpt >

Purchase This Book

Local Area Networks: An Introduction to the Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 7: Topologies and Access Methods

Contact Preferences

This is embarrasing...

Customize Your GlobalSpec Experience

Select Your Free Newsletters

Industry Newsletters

Select Your Free Product Alerts

This is embarrasing...