Neon-komputadór

Network Typology

Related to the cabling and NIC used is the typology of the local area network. This refers to the design and layout of the network, the way the cables are physically arranged, and comes in three basic styles, bus, star and logical ring, although sometimes a combination co-existing in what is referred to as a hybrid network. Ethernet networks that use coaxial cables form are used to establish bus typology, UTP cables a star typology and token-ring NIC, using either STP or coaxial cable is used for a logical ring typology.

A bus typology consists of a single cable with a T-connector connecting each client to the main cable. Whilst the cabling is relatively uncomplicated, the typology suffers the dual problems of providing better network connection relative to the closeness of the workstation to the server (which is undoubtedly advantageous to some!) and the fact that if one computer or cable is dysfunctional then al other computers further down the bus will also be affected. In comparison, in the more popular star typology each workstation has a it's own cable that connects to a central hub. Because each workstation has it's own cable it's easier to distinguish problems in the network and of course, the failure of one machine doesn't affect other clients. In a logical ring typology, the physical layout of the network is in the same style as a star - the cables are connected from the client to a central hub. However data is processed in the hub in the form of a logical ring - that is, each workstation is connected to the next in line with the last computer connected to the first again - it's like a bus network except that it loops back on itself.