LAN Maps & Symbols

Topologies & Devices

 By the end of this
Chapter, you will be
able to name and
describe all the symbols
in this diagram.
Physical & Logical Topologies
Physical Topologies define the actual
layout of the wire (media).
 For example, this classroom’s wiring is
laid out in an extended star
Logical Topologies define how the
media is accessed by the hosts.
 For example, in this classroom hosts
access the media on a first come, first
served basis
Physical Topologies
Extended
Bus
Star

Ring Hierarchical

Star Mesh
Bus Topology
Single backbone
All hosts directly
connected to backbone
Each end of the bus
must be properly
terminated
Ring Topology
No backbone
A host is directly
connected to each of its
neighbors
Used for token passing
logical topologies
Star Topology
All devices connected to
a central point
Center of star is usually
a hub or a switch
Used for Ethernet
technologies
Extended Star Topology
Connects individual star
topologies together.
At the center of the star
is a hub or a switch.
Extends the length and
size of the network.
This is the topology we
are using in our lab!
Hierarchical Topology
Server Like the extended star
except a computer
controls traffic—not a
hub or a switch.
Mesh Topology

Each host has its own

connection to every
other host
Used in situations where
communication must not
be interrupted.
Logical Topologies
Broadcast Topology
 Each host on the LAN sends its data (or
broadcasts its data) to every other host.
 Access to media is based of “first-come,
first-serve.” (Ethernet works this way)
Token Passing Topology
 Access to media is controlled by an
electronic token.
 Possession of the token gives the host the
right to pass data to its destination.
LAN Media Symbols

Token Ethernet
Ring Line

FDDI Serial
Ring Line
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
Devices & Data Encapsulation
Evolution of LAN Devices

NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

Bridges
Switches
Routers
NIC Specifics
NICs provide hosts with access to
media by using a MAC address.
MAC stands for Media Access Control
NICs operate at Layer 2 !!
NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs
The First LAN
NIC NIC

To connect two computers, you must...

Install a NIC card in each.
Attach computers NIC
using a crossover cable
You will make a crossover cable in Ch. 5
NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs
Repeaters can be used
to increase the distance
NIC NIC

So what can we use

What’s the maximum
Repeaters if
amplify this
and distance
100ismeters
greater or approx.
than
retime 300 feet
100 meters?
signals
distance for Cat 5 cable?
NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs

NIC NIC

Using repeaters was fine as long as a business

only needed two computers networked.
What if a business wanted a
NIC third computer attached? NIC

Or a fourth? What
device would they need?
NICs, Repeaters, & Hubs
A multi-port repeater!
Also called a...
NIC Hub NIC

NIC NIC
 As businesses expanded their
networks, they began to
cascade hubs.

NIC NIC

NIC NIC

A Dilemma!
What’s The Problem?
1) Hubs share bandwidth between all
attached devices.
2) Hubs are stupid, Layer 1 devices.
They cannot filter traffic.
3) Most LANs use a “broadcast topology,”
so every device sees every packet
sent down the media.
Let’s take a look at how broadcasting works
 In this picture, all hubs forward
Broadcasts all traffic to all devices.
 So, if Host 1 wants ping Host 2, all
Broadcasts hosts see the ping. This is what we
mean by a broadcast topology

1
2

The red arrows show that all hosts receive the

ping request. Only Host 2 will respond.
What’s The Solution?
We need a smarter hub!
What’s a “smarter hub” called?
A Bridge!
Bridges filter network traffic based on
MAC addresses.
Let’s take a look at how this works.
 To lessen the amount of LAN traffic,
Bridge businesses began to uses bridges to
filter frames based on MAC addresses.
 Now, if Host 1 pings Host 2, only the
Bridge hosts on that LAN segment see the
ping. The bridges stop the ping.

1
2
 A switch (also known as a multi-port
bridge), can effectively replace these
Switch four bridges.
Switch
10 Mbps

10 Mbps
The Cloud

10 Mbps

10 Mbps 10 Mbps

Another benefit of a switch is that each

LAN segment gets dedicated bandwidth.
 Since
But a switch
a switch is a stop
cannot multi-port
a pingbridge,
destined
Switch forwea know
traveling
it will
different LAN
travelingtotoallother
stop local pings
segment
othernetwork
from from
segments.
LAN segments.

1
2
 For example, Host 1 pings Host 16. Since Host
Switch 16 isWhat
on another LANsolve
device will segment, the switch will
this problem?
flood the ping request out all ports.

16
 Routers filter traffic based on IP addresses.
The IP address tells the router which LAN
segment the ping belongs to.

16
Router
Devices Function At Layers

Know These!
Devices Function At Layers

Also know that each

device not only works at
its layer, but all layers
below it.
Devices Function At Layers

For example, a router is

a layer 3 device but also
uses MAC addresses
(layer 2) and repeats
the signal (layer 1)
Devices Function At Layers
One last bit of information from Chapter
3
At what layers do
ALL 7two
these LAYERS!!
operate?

The Cloud
The Cloud The Cloud

The cloud is a collection of devices that

operate at all levels (7-1) of the OSI model.
The cloud is used to represent a large group
of details that are not pertinent to a situation
or description, at a given time.
The cloud helps remind us that our
discussions are about various parts of a
larger interconnected network—The Internet!
LAN Device Symbols—Layer 1

Repeater

Transceiver

Hub
LAYER 1—Repeater

Cleans up (regenerates) and repeats the

signal.
Used when a network’s cabling extends
beyond its capability.
LAYER 1—Transceiver
Cat 5 UTP Fiber

Transmitter and Receiver of electronic

signals—specialized repeater.
Connects different media technologies
Also called a MAU (Media Attachment Unit)
LAYER 1—Hub The Cloud

Simply a multi-port repeater.

Used to connect multiple devices to the
same network drop.
LAN Device Symbols—Layer 2

Bridge

Switch
LAYER 2—Bridge

Connects two LAN segments.

Keeps traffic local by filtering traffic
based on MAC Addresses.
LAYER 2—Switch The Cloud

Connects multiple LAN segments.

Can be called a multi-port bridge.
Provides full bandwidth out each port.
LAN Device Symbols—Layer 3

Router
LAYER 3—Router The Cloud

Can be used to connect different Layer 2

devices and different topologies.
Makes decisions based on network addresses
(IP Addresses).
What are the routers two main functions?
Router’s Two Main Functions

Path Determination

Packet Switching
Router’s Two Main Functions

Path Determination is the process of

evaluating a packet’s destination IP
address so that the router can decide
which port to send out the packet.
Router’s Two Main Functions

In Packet Switching, the router re-

encapsulates the packet in the protocol
needed for the specified port and then
switches the packet out that port.
That’s all folks!

THE END
Good Luck
On The
Test!!