Chapter 1 Flashcards
List the 7 common topologies
Bus, star, ring, mesh, point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, hybrid
Physical topologies describe what?
Human-visible arrangement and connection of hosts. What the “humans see”
Logical topologies describe what?
How data moves through the network. What the “equipment sees”
Describe a bus topology
two distinct and terminated ends, with each of its computers connecting to one unbroken cable running its entire length
What are the advantages of the bus topology?
Easy to install, inexpensive b/c it doesn’t require as much cable
What are the disadvantages of the bus topology?
Difficult to troubleshoot/change/move. Everything is connected, so it doesn’t excel at fault tolerance.
Describe star topology
A star topology’s computers are connected to a central point with their own individual
cables or wireless connections. You’ll often find that central spot inhabited by a device like
a hub, a switch, or an access point.
What are the advantages of the star topology?
New stations can be added easily and quickly; A single cable failure won’t bring down the entire network.;It is relatively easy to troubleshoot.
What are the disadvantages of the star stopology?
If the central device fails (the switch/hub/etc), the entire network goes down.;It has a single point of failure (the hub or other central device).
Describe ring topology
In a ring topology, each computer is connected to exactly two other devices, forming a circular data path where information travels in one direction (unidirectional) or both directions (bidirectional) to prevent data collisions.
What are the advantages of the ring topology?
Advantages of ring topology:
• Efficient Data Flow – Data travels in one direction, reducing collisions. • Predictable Performance – Each device has equal access to the network. • Scalability – Can handle high traffic with token-based access. • Simplified Troubleshooting – Faults are easier to isolate.
What are the disadvantages of the ring topology?
• Difficult to troubleshoot and modify – Identifying and fixing issues can be challenging since a failure affects the entire network.
• Low fault tolerance – A single point of failure can disrupt the entire network unless a dual-ring setup is used.
• Higher installation costs – Compared to bus and star topologies, ring topology typically requires more cabling and specialized hardware, making it more expensive to install and maintain.
Describe mesh topology
In this type of topology, you’ll find that there’s a path from every machine to every other
one in the network.
What are the advantages of the mesh topology?
Most tolerant of faults; lowest potential for collisions;
What are the disadvantages of the mesh topology?
• High cost – Requires extensive cabling and hardware, making it expensive even for small networks.
• Complex management – Configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting multiple connections can be challenging.
Describe point-to-point topology.
As its name implies, in a point-to-point topology you have a direct connection between two
routers, giving you one communication path. The routers in a point-to-point topology can
either be linked by a serial cable, making it a physical network, or be far apart and connected
only by a circuit within a Frame Relay or MPLS network, making it a logical network.
What are the advantages of point-to-point topology?
Advantages of Point-to-Point Topology
1. Simple Configuration – Easy to set up and manage with minimal hardware.
2. High Performance – Direct connection ensures fast and efficient data transfer.
3. Secure Communication – No other devices share the link, reducing security risks.
4. Reliable Connection – Dedicated link minimizes interference and congestion.
5. Low Latency – Data travels directly between two devices without intermediate hops.
While best for direct connections, point-to-point topology is limited in scalability.
What are the disadvantages of point-to-point topology?
- Limited Scalability – Only connects two devices; adding more requires additional connections.
- High Cost for Expansion – Requires dedicated links for each connection, increasing infrastructure costs.
- Single Point of Failure – If the link fails, communication between the two devices is lost.
- Inefficient for Large Networks – Not practical for networks with multiple devices, as it lacks flexibility.
- Limited Redundancy – No alternative paths for data transmission if a failure occurs.
While simple and reliable for direct communication, point-to-point topology is impractical for complex networks.
Describe point-to-multipoint topology.
As the name implies, a point-to-multipoint topology comprises a series of connections
between an interface on one router and multiple destination routers—a single point of connection to multiple points of connection. Each router and every one of its interfaces involved in the point-to-multipoint connection are collectively part of the same network.
Describe hybrid topology
a combination of two or more types of physical or logical network
topologies working together within the same network.
Define LAN
A local area network (LAN) typically operates within a confined geographical region, such as an office building, a specific department within a corporate office, or even a home office. It is composed of interconnected network segments.
Define WAN
A local area network (LAN) typically operates within a confined geographical region, such as an office building, a specific department within a corporate office, or even a home office. It comprises interconnected network segments. WAN networks are what we use to span large geographic
areas and truly go the distance. Like the Internet, WANs usually employ both routers and
public links, so that’s generally the criteria used to define them.
What are 6 ways WANs differ from LANs?
- Geographic Scope – WANs cover large areas; LANs are confined to a local area.
- Ownership – LANs are typically privately owned; WANs use third-party providers.
- Speed – LANs are generally faster than WANs due to lower latency.
- Technology – WANs use routers and leased lines; LANs use switches and Ethernet.
- Cost – WANs are more expensive due to infrastructure and service provider fees.
- Public Links – WANs often rely on public links (like the Internet) for connectivity, unlike LANs that use private, dedicated links.
If a LAN connects hosts a WAN connects…
If a LAN connects hosts, a WAN connects multiple LANs across different locations.
What are the three primary LAN topologies?
Bus, ring, and star
Which WAN technology provides multiple connections to a single site, offering high fault tolerance and supports one-to-many connections, while enhancing routing efficiency, enabling traffic engineering, and allowing VPN-like segmentation within various WAN topologies, including mesh networks, to improve performance, scalability, and security?
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
In this context, VPN-like segmentation refers to the ability of MPLS to create virtual private networks (VPNs) within a WAN, allowing for secure, isolated communication between different segments of the network, similar to traditional VPNs. MPLS can separate traffic into different virtual channels or paths, ensuring that each segment’s data is isolated and secure, while still operating over the same physical infrastructure. This segmentation enhances both security and traffic management within the WAN.
What is the term for a device that shares its resources with other network devices?
Server
What network model draws a clear distinction between devices that share their resources and devices that do not?
Client/Server
Which network topology or connection type can be implemented with only two endpoints?
Point-to-point connection
Usually, the two devices in a point-to-point connection are a router and a router or a router and a switch. This type of connection is commonly used for direct communication between two networked devices, often in WANs or dedicated leased lines.
What device is an example of an Ethernet technology implemented as a star topology?
An example of an Ethernet technology implemented as a star topology is either a network switch or a hub. In this topology, all devices (computers, printers, etc.) are connected to a central hub or switch, which manages data traffic between them. While a hub simply broadcasts data to all devices, a switch directs data to specific devices, improving efficiency.
Define MPLS
MultiProtocol Label Switching. MPLS is a switching mechanism that imposes labels (numbers) to data and then uses those labels to forward data when the data arrives at the MPLS network.
What does WAN stand for?
Wide Area Network
Will a computer that shares no resources most likely be connected to the backbone or to a segment?
A computer that shares no resources is most likely to be connected to a segment rather than the backbone. A segment typically refers to a portion of the network where devices communicate with each other, while the backbone is a central part of the network that connects multiple segments and handles higher traffic volumes.
Which LAN topology is characterized by all devices being daisy-chained together with the devices at each end being connected to only one other device?
The bus topology is characterized by all devices being daisy-chained together, meaning each device is connected to the next in a linear sequence. Devices at each end are connected to only one other device, with all sharing a single communication line for data transmission.
MPLS network
A Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is a high-performance, scalable routing technique that directs data using short path labels instead of traditional IP addresses. It improves speed, efficiency, and traffic management by establishing predetermined, low-latency paths across a network. MPLS is commonly used in enterprise and service provider networks for secure and reliable data transmission.
Short path labels
Short path labels in MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) are identifiers assigned to packets that determine their forwarding path through the network. Instead of traditional IP-based routing, which requires each router to inspect a packet’s destination, MPLS routers use these labels to make fast, predetermined forwarding decisions, reducing latency and improving efficiency.
