Difference Is Technology - Ethernet, Token Ring, Fddi and Wireless Technology

Table of Content

Conclusions 3

Mesh, Bus, Ring and Star Topologies 4

Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI and Wireless Technology 7

Conclusions 10

Reference List 11

Introduction

The four topology's for networks are Mesh, Bus, Ring and Star. The different network topologies determine how data will be moved throughout the network. This paper will explain how each of these topologies is different and what advantages each one has over the other. This paper will also explain how the different topologies have disadvantages when implementing them. It is important that each topology be understood so that the best network configuration can be chosen by an IT professional.

The second part of this paper will explain the differences in networking topologies. Four networking technologies that will be discussed are Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) and wireless. Each one has different configurations that set it apart from the other technologies. Also, each of the technologies has advantages depending on the needs of a network. Along with advantages comes the disadvantages, some technologies offer limited advantages when compared with others. Understanding different networking technologies is vital for anyone planning to work in the IT field.

Mesh, Bus, Ring, and Star Topologies

The first type of topology to be discussed is the mesh topology. Mesh topologies involve the connection of all computers together on a network through cables. There are redundant connections to computers using this technology. Because of the numerous connections mesh has the advantage of not failing when a connection is lost on one computer. The other computers connected on the network continue to functions even though a connection was lost. The use of mesh topologies is used by telephone exchanges and WANs where information can be passed along the different connections. The main advantage of mesh topology is the performance and security that it provides over the other topologies.

While the mesh topology does offer significant performance and security it also comes with its share of disadvantages. A mesh topology involves a lot of connections so it will be expensive to setup. The price of a mesh topology might not be beneficial to someone setting up a LAN or smaller network. Along with price of mesh is the complexity of mesh when the number of computers starts to increase. The complexity of mesh starts to increase after each computer is added. The other topologies are much easier to set up and less expensive to implement. The price and complexity are two disadvantages that need to be recognized when choosing a network topology.

The second type of topology to be discussed is the bus type. The bus topology uses only one cable to connect multiple computers. Each end of the cable is terminated using a transmitter. The advantages of a bus topology are evident in its cheap cost to setup. Since it uses only one cable, bus topology is the cheapest technology to implement of the four types. The shape of the bus topology is also different from the four. It is a straight cable with computers connected at different parts of the cable. Each computer is responsible for passing on information to the next.

The problems with a bus topology are that if a computer loses connection or is faulty, the other computers cannot receive information until it is brought back online. Along with its unreliability, bus also performs poorly when compared to the other topologies. Bus sends data along the single cable and each computer hears the data until the right computer is reached. This puts a bus topology at a major disadvantage when compared to the other topologies. A large corporation would not find it beneficial to have its network setup in the bus topology. A corporation needs efficiency and reliability that bus lacks. Problems with reliability and performance set it apart from the four topologies.

The third type of topology is the ring topology. The ring topology is very similar to a bus topology in that it uses one cable but it loops the cable around in a ring shape to connect other computers. The difference in the two is the way the ring topology loops the signal back around the cable without having it terminated at each end. Ring provides more reliability than bus because computers that are faulty can be turned off to prevent a break in the network. Since the cable is looped, a signal can be sent around the loop again without having to go backwards. The ring topology improves upon the bus topology by having increased performance and avoiding breaks in connection.

The final type of topology is the star topology. As it name would suggest its shape would look like a star. The star topology is completely different from the bus and ring topologies because the computers are connected to a hub. Each computer has a connection on the hub they use to transmit and receive data. The star topology is more expensive than the bus and ring topologies. A star topology has more cabling because the computers each have their own cable running to the hub. Also, a hub has to be purchased to manage the flow of data. While not as expensive as a mesh topology, star ranks as the third most expensive topology.

One of the advantages of a star topology is its ability to avoid faulty terminals on the network. One device on the network fails it continues to function. Unless, the hub fails. In this case the computers and devices will be unable to send and receive data. Another advantage that a star topology has over ring and bus is the hub controls the flow of data so it doesn't have to be sent to every computer connected. The hub determines where the data will be sent when it receives the data. A final advantage of a star topology is its ability to network various other star networks together. A hub can be linked up with another hub to bring the networks together. Overall the star topology is reliable and flexible in its functions while being more expensive than bus and ring topologies.

Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and Wireless Technology

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