Page 94 - DCAP104_EXPOSURE_TO_COMPUTER_DISCPLINES

Unit 5: Operations of Network

Extended Star Notes
A type of network topology in which a network that is based upon the physical star topology has
one or more repeaters between the central node (the ‘hub’ of the star) and the peripheral or ‘spoke’
nodes, the repeaters being used to extend the maximum transmission distance of the point-to-
point links between the central node and the peripheral nodes beyond that which is supported
by the transmitter power of the central node or beyond that which is supported by the standard
upon which the physical layer of the physical star network is based.

If the repeaters in a network that is based upon the physical extended star topology are replaced
with hubs or switches, then a hybrid network topology is created that is referred to as a physical
hierarchical star topology, although some texts make no distinction between the two topologies.
Distributed Star
A type of network topology that is composed of individual networks that are based upon the
physical star topology connected together in a linear fashion - i.e., ‘daisy-chained’ — with no
central or top level connection point (e.g., two or more ‘stacked’ hubs, along with their associated
star connected nodes or ‘spokes’).
Ring Network Topology

A network topology that is set up in a circular fashion in which data travels around the ring in
one direction and each device on the right acts as a repeater to keep the signal strong as it travels.
Each device incorporates a receiver for the incoming signal and a transmitter to send the data
on to the next device in the ring. The network is dependent on the ability of the signal to travel
around the ring.

Figure 5.6: Ring Topology

Mesh Networking

The value of fully meshed networks is proportional to the exponent of the number of subscribers,
assuming that communicating groups of any two endpoints, up to and including all the endpoints,
is approximated by Reed’s Law.

Fully connected Mesh Topology
The number of connections in a full mesh = n(n - 1) / 2

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