Network Topology Basics

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Questions and Answers

What defines a Hybrid topology?

A combination of similar topologies connected together.

The connection of various different topologies. (correct)

A single type of topology connecting all nodes.

A network solely based on wireless devices.

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of Hybrid topology?

Scalability with addition of devices.

Flexibility in network design.

Reliable operation during faults.

Easy design process. (correct)

What is a major disadvantage of Hybrid topology?

Low reliability under faults.

High cost of infrastructure. (correct)

Limited expansion capabilities.

Minimal flexibility for custom designs.

How does Hybrid topology handle faults within the network?

Only the faulty part is impacted, maintaining functionality in the rest. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about types of computer networks is incorrect?

Hybrid networks consist only of wireless devices. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using a bus topology?

Low-cost cable installation Signup and view all the answers

What type of cable is primarily used in bus topology networks?

Coaxial or twisted pair cables Signup and view all the answers

What happens if two nodes send messages simultaneously in a bus topology?

The signals will collide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of bus topology?

Extensive cabling requirements Signup and view all the answers

How is ring topology different from bus topology?

Ring topology connects all nodes in a closed loop Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge when troubleshooting a bus topology?

Determining the location of cable faults Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about adding new devices to a bus topology is true?

It may slow down the network Signup and view all the answers

What does attenuation refer to in the context of bus topology?

Loss of signal strength over distance Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of ARPANET?

To create a robust communication system for the U.S. Defense Team Signup and view all the answers

When did the World Wide Web open to the public?

6 August 1991 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the smaller pieces into which information is broken for transmission on the internet?

Packets Signup and view all the answers

What role does a router play in the Packet Routing Network?

It directs packets to their next destination Signup and view all the answers

Which protocol ensures that no packet is lost during data transmission?

Transfer Control Protocol (TCP) Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited as the 'Father of the Internet' for his role in the development of the World Wide Web?

Tim Berners-Lee Signup and view all the answers

What is HTML primarily used for?

Designing and structuring web pages Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of URLs in web browsing?

They provide unique identification for web pages Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of the Network Layer?

Providing logical connections between different devices Signup and view all the answers

Which protocol is considered a reliable transport protocol?

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Signup and view all the answers

What process involves converting data into smaller units known as segments at the Transport Layer?

Segmentation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of User Datagram Protocol (UDP)?

It does not establish a connection Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of routing within the Network Layer?

To determine the optimal path for data transmission Signup and view all the answers

What does the Network Layer add to the header of the frame?

Source and destination addresses Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for ensuring that messages are transmitted in order?

Transport Layer Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes internetworking in the context of the Network Layer?

Connecting multiple networks together Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a port in a communication node?

It identifies a specific process within a node. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of twisted pair cable is primarily used for high-speed data communication?

Category 5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using unshielded twisted pair cables?

They are cost-effective and easy to install. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the shielded twisted pair cable?

It is significantly more expensive than twisted pair cables. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using unshielded twisted pair cables?

They can only be used for short distances due to attenuation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'guided media' refer to in data transmission?

Physical mediums through which signals are transmitted. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of address is associated with sending emails?

Email address Signup and view all the answers

What is the frequency range for twisted pair cables?

0 to 3.5 KHz Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Topology of a Network

Topology defines the structure of a network, showcasing how components are interconnected.
Types of Topology
- Physical topology: Represents the physical arrangement of network devices.
- Logical topology: Represents the flow of data within the network.

Bus Topology

Description: All devices are connected to a single cable, called the backbone cable.
Connection: Devices connect with drop cables to the backbone cable.
Data Transmission: Messages are broadcasted on the backbone cable, received by all devices.
Standards: Mainly used in 802.3 (Ethernet) and 802.4 standard networks.
Advantages:
- Cost-effective cabling.
- Moderate data speeds (up to 10 Mbps).
- Familiar technology for installation and troubleshooting.
- Device failure does not affect other devices.
Disadvantages:
- Extensive cabling requirements.
- Difficult to troubleshoot cable faults.
- Signal interference caused by simultaneous transmissions.
- Slows down network performance when adding new devices.
- Attenuation (signal loss) requires repeaters to regenerate the signal.

Ring Topology

Description: Similar to bus topology but with connected ends.

Hybrid Topology

Description: Combines different types of topologies for data transfer.
Example: Combining a ring topology in one part of a bank and a bus topology in another.
Advantages:
- Reliable: Fault in one part does not affect the entire network.
- Scalable: Can easily expand the network size.
- Flexible: Adaptable to various organizational needs.
- Effective: Can maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses of different topologies.
Disadvantages:
- Complex network design.
- Expensive hub requirements.
- High infrastructure costs due to cabling and devices.

Types of Computer Networks

Wired Networks: Use physical connections (cables) to connect devices.
Wireless Networks: Use radio waves for communication between devices without cables.

The Internet

Origins:
- ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was initially designed to provide a communication network that could survive a nuclear attack.
- The first public launch of the World Wide Web occurred on August 6, 1991.
Client and Server Interaction:
- Clients (user devices) connect to the internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- When a client requests a webpage, it connects to the server hosting the webpage.
Packet Transmission:
- Information is broken into packets for efficient transmission.
- Each packet contains an address to guide it to the receiving device.
- Routers, part of the Packet Routing Network, handle packet forwarding based on addresses.
Transfer Control Protocol (TCP):
- Responsible for ensuring reliable delivery of packets.
- Packets are reassembled at the receiver in the correct order.
Steps in Message Transmission:
- Computer 1 sends a message to Computer 2.
- The message is split into packets.
- TCP ensures packet delivery and quality.
- Packets reach Computer 2 and are reassembled.

Father of the Internet: Tim Berners-Lee

Key Roles: Developed the World Wide Web, HTTP, HTML, and URLs.
Background : Graduated with a Physics degree from Oxford University in 1976.
Current Role: Director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Network Layers

Data Link Layer

Responsibilities: Packet routing and forwarding.

Network Layer

Devices: Routers (layer 3 devices) provide routing services.
Protocols: Network layer protocols, such as IP and IPv6, handle network traffic routing.
Functions:
- Internetworking: Establishing logical connections between devices.
- Addressing: Assigning source and destination addresses to packets.
- Routing: Determining the optimal path for data flow.
- Packetizing: Converting data into packets.

Transport Layer

Responsibilities:
- Ensuring message order and preventing duplication of data.
- Reliable transfer of data.
Segmenting: Receives data from upper layers and divides it into segments.
End-to-End Connection: Provides a point-to-point connection between communicating devices.
Protocols:
- Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): Reliable connection-oriented protocol for transferring data over the internet.
  - Establishes and maintains connections, divides data into segments, and reorders received packets.
- User Datagram Protocol (UDP): Unreliable connectionless protocol.
  - It does not require acknowledgements from the receiver, and data delivery is not guaranteed.
Port Numbers:
- Each process on a node has a unique port number for identification.
- Ports are similar to extensions of IP addresses.
Specific Addresses:
- User-friendly addresses exist for specific applications, such as email addresses and URLs.

Transmission Media

Guided Media: Physical media used for signal transmission.
Twisted Pair: A pair of insulated copper wires twisted together to reduce noise interference.
- Types:
  - Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): Widely used in telecommunications.
  - Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): Contains a mesh surrounding the wires for higher transmission rates.
Advantages of Twisted Pair:
- Cost-effective.
- Easy to install.
- Suitable for high-speed LANs.
Disadvantages of Twisted Pair:
- Limited distance due to signal attenuation.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of network topology and its various types, with a focus on bus topology. Understand the structure, advantages, and disadvantages of different network arrangements to improve your networking knowledge.