Networking

2(a) Use appropriate labelled diagrams to illustrate the following network topologies.
   i Startopology (ii) bustopology (iii) ring topology.

(b) State one advantage of: i Star topology ii Bus topology.

(c) Give one disadvantage of: (i) Bus topology: (i)Ring topology.

Answer Details

(a) i. Star topology: In a star topology, all the devices are connected to a central device called a hub or switch. The hub acts as a central point of communication and manages the flow of data between devices. Here is a labeled diagram of a star topology: ``` Device 1 Device 2 Device 3 | | | +-------------+-------------+ Hub | CPU ``` ii. Bus topology: In a bus topology, all the devices are connected to a single cable called a bus. The data transmitted by one device is received by all the devices on the network. Here is a labeled diagram of a bus topology: ``` Device 1 | Device 2 | Device 3 | +-------+ | Bus | +-------+ | CPU ``` iii. Ring topology: In a ring topology, all the devices are connected to form a closed loop. Data is transmitted in one direction around the ring, and each device acts as a repeater to amplify the signal and pass it on to the next device. Here is a labeled diagram of a ring topology: ``` +-----------+ | Device 1 | +-----------+ | +-----------+ | Device 2 | +-----------+ | +-----------+ | Device 3 | +-----------+ | +-----------+ | CPU | +-----------+ ``` (b) i. Advantage of Star topology: One advantage of a star topology is that it is easy to install and maintain. If a device fails or needs to be added, it can be easily replaced or added without affecting the rest of the network. Additionally, the hub or switch can be used to monitor and manage the network traffic, making it easier to troubleshoot any issues. ii. Advantage of Bus topology: One advantage of a bus topology is that it is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. Since all the devices are connected to a single cable, it requires less cable and equipment than other topologies. Additionally, the bus topology is scalable, meaning new devices can be added to the network without significant disruption. (c) i. Disadvantage of Bus topology: One disadvantage of a bus topology is that it is vulnerable to network congestion and collisions. Since all the devices share a single communication channel, if multiple devices try to transmit data simultaneously, collisions can occur, causing delays and reducing the network performance. Additionally, if the bus cable fails, the entire network can be affected. ii. Disadvantage of Ring topology: One disadvantage of a ring topology is that it is also vulnerable to network congestion and failures. If a device or cable fails, the entire network can be disrupted. Additionally, adding or removing devices from a ring topology can be challenging and require significant network reconfiguration.