TYPES OF NETWORK AND NETWORK TOPOLOGY

TYPES OF NETWORK

It is the intersection of computer in a defined environment and in a particular manner for the purpose of sharing information and to ease communication.

          Network is divided into three main categories;

a)     Local Area Network (LAN): This is a network which covers a limited area such as a building or a compound; it is suitable for short distance sharing of information. It involves the sharing of hardware components including printers and hard disk. Here we can also carry out sharing of a program that is present only on one computer, controlled by the network software. Network links use in this system on network includes; telephone lines or co – axial cables. We can also see fiber optics in some newer systems.

b)    Metropolitan Area Network (WAN): This system of network covers a geographical area such as a city or a metropolitan area (e.g. within a village, town or sub – division). An example is the cable TV

c)     Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers a large geographical area such as a country, continent or world at large. It provides services to many users or organization. A measure example of a WAN is the internet.

NETWORK TOPOLOGY

          It refers to the way or manner in which computers are being position or configured in a system of network.

Types of network topology include;

a)     Star topology: in this topology, a number of computer or peripheral devices are connected or linked to a central unit. The central unit is a hub and typically a host computer or a file server. All information passes through the central unit, hence several users can share resources on central computer.

b)    Bus topology: IN this topology, each computer handles its own communication control. There is no host, thus all communication travels along a common connecting cable call a bus. This bus network is typically use when only a few microcomputers are to be linked.

c)     Ring topology:  In this case, each device is connected to two other devices forming a ring. There is no central file server or computer. Messages a passed along the ring until they reach the correct destination. This topology is not frequently used as other, reason being that information for a user can be viewed by another user.

d)    Tree network topology: this consists of several computers linked to a central host computer just like a star network. It allows various computers to share database, processing power and different output devices.

e)     Peer to Peer (Mesh) network topology: Here each workstation can communicate directly with every other work station on the network without going through a server.

f)      Client/server network topology: This system of network topology uses one computer to coordinate and supply services to other notes on the network. The server provides access to resources such as database, application software and hardware. Client network system is widely used on the internet. It main advantage it ability to handle very large networks efficiency.