Ethernet Networks
In the diagram below you will see two ethernet configurations. On the left the computers are connected together with a single cable coming from the router/switch, this is called a bus or thin ethernet configuration.
In bus topologies, all computers are connected to a single cable or "trunk or backbone", by a transceiver either directly or by using a short drop cable. All ends of the cable must be terminated, that is plugged into a device such as a computer or terminator. Most bus topologies use coax cables.
The number of computers on a bus network will affect network performance, since only one computer at a time can send data, the more computers you have on the network the more computers there will be waiting send data. A line break at any point along the trunk cable will result in total network failure.
Computers on a bus only listen for data being sent they do not move data from one computer to the next, this is called passive topology.
On the right side of the diagram each computer connects directly to the router/switch. this is how most ethernets are configured today. In this topology management of the network is made much easier (such as adding and removing devices), because of the central point. However because it is centralized more cable is required. If one computer fails the network will continue to function.
If computers are connected in a row, along a single cable this is called a bus topology, if they branch out from a single junction or hub this is known as a star topology. When computers are connected to a cable that forms a continuous loop this is called a ring topology.
0 comments:
Post a Comment