Network Topology Comparison

Information
Topology Setup Expansion Troubleshooting Cost Cabling Concerns
Transfer
Each computer must
Uses twisted pair
be close to the When one computer More expensive of
cable.
Star Bus central device. Add a new computer goes down, the rest the simple
All information Requires large
100 meters by plugging in a new of the network is topologies, it
passes through the amounts of cable.
Each computer maximum cable cable from the unaffected. If the requires costly
central network No more than 100
connects to a central length. computer to the connection device connection device.
connection. meters from the
connection device. Up to 24 computers connection device. goes down, then the Usually cheaper than
computer to the
per network. network is down. a hybrid network.
connection device.
One computer at a
Single continuous
time sends Connect the cable
To add a computer, cable connects the
Bus information. from one computer
you must shut down If one computer A cheaper network devices.
Information goes to the next and so on
the network and malfunctions, the since there is usually Terminator is
Single cable connects along the cable and to the end. A
disconnect the cable entire network goes one continuous required at each end
everything. the computer terminator is placed
from the existing down. copper cable. of the cable.
accesses the at each end of the
computers. Uses coaxial or
information off the network.
twisted pair cabling.
cable.
If there's a break in
the cable or an error
Computers are in the network,
located close to each Cable between the information
Information goes in
Ring one direction around
other. computers must be continues to transfer
One of the more Requires more
Setup is easy. broken to add a new through the rest of
the ring and passes expensive topologies cabling than other
Single cable configured There is no computer, so the the ring until
along the ring until it due to high cable topologies. Uses
in a ring. connector. network is down until reaching the point of
reaches the correct costs. twisted pair.
The ring has no the new device is the break. This
computer.
beginning and no back online. makes
end. troubleshooting
easy.

Cabling depends on
Often used across the types of
Hybrid Mesh long distances. Often created when Connection devices Troubleshooting is networks.
Information transfer expanding an make combining most difficult in this Expensive, large, Can use twisted pair
Combines two or more can happen in existing network. different networks topology because of and usually and coaxial cable.
different structures. different ways, Can use a variety of and different the variety of complicated. Also incorporates
depending on the connection devices. topologies easy. technologies. fiber optic cabling
other topologies. over long distances.

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 Ring Network Topology Bus Network Topology

Star Network Topology Mesh Network Topology

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 Tree Network Topology

Extranet
An intranet that allows customers, vendors or other partners to access resources or information is called an extranet. Most companies
extend their intranets into extranets when they see the benefits of giving customers and vendors quick access to current information.
For example, companies that once relied on regular mail-outs can now make the same information available via an extranet to save
printing and postage costs.

What is Extranet?

is an intranet for outside authorized users using same internet technologies. The
outside users are trusted partners of the organization who have access to
information of their interest & concern.
It extends the intranet concept to provide a network that connects a company‟s
network to the networks of its business partners, selected customers, or suppliers.

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How it is different from Intranets?
Intranets differ from extranet in that the former are generally restricted to employees of the organization while extranets may also be
accessed by customers, suppliers, or other approved parties. Extranets extend a private network onto the Internet with special
provisions for access, authorization and authentication.

Types of Extranet
Public Network Extranet
Exists when an organization allows the public to access its intranet from any public network. Security is an issue in this
configuration, because a public network does not provide any security protection.

Private Network Extranet

Is a private, leased-line connection bet. Two companies that physically connects their intranets to one another. The single
advantage of this is Security. The single largest drawback is Cost.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) [Will shortly discuss this is detail]

Is a network that uses public networks and their protocols to send sensitive data to partners, customers, suppliers, and
employees by using system called “tunneling”. Tunnels are private passage ways through the public internet that provide secure

Companies can use an extranet to:

 Exchange large volumes of data using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

 Share product catalogs exclusively with wholesalers or those "in the trade"
 Collaborate with other companies on joint development efforts.
 Jointly develop and use training programs with other companies.
 Provide or access services provided by one company to a group of other companies, such as an online banking application
managed by one company on behalf of affiliated banks
 Share news of common interest exclusively with partner companies

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Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Some example uses for a VPN network include:

 Access your computers, servers and files in your

office from your home
 Connect 2 or more remote offices together to
make it appear they are all on the same
computer network. You'll have access to all files
stored on a server, access to all printers, etc.. It
will seem like all remote offices are in the same
building. Employees will have access to all
resources on the computer networks of all
offices setup in your VPN.
 Work from a public hotspot, like at an internet
cafe, and still have access to your files,
computers and servers in your office.
 While on vacation or off-island you can have access to your files, computers and servers from anywhere in the world
 If you have a dialup internet account, you can use your computer/laptop from a remote location to connect to your office using
the public telephone network.
 Work from home using your DSL or broadband connection while still having access to your office computer network.

A well-designed VPN can greatly benefit a company.

For example, it can:

 Extend geographic connectivity
 Improve security
 Reduce operational costs versus traditional WAN
 Reduce transit time and transportation costs for remote users
 Improve productivity
 Simplify network topology
 Provide global networking opportunities
 Provide telecommuter support
 Provide broadband networking compatibility
 Provide faster ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN
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What is Intranet?
The term Intranet is derived from two words: „Intra‟ which means within and „net‟ which means group of interconnected computers.
is a private computer network that uses Internet protocols and network connectivity to securely share any part of an organization's
information or operational systems with its employees.
In short, an intranet is private network, similar to the Internet and using the same protocols and technology, contained within an
enterprise or not-for-profit organization.

How it is different from Internet?

The technologies used in Intranet and Internet may be same but the main difference between them is that the information shared in
intranet can be access only by authorized persons especially members or employees of the organization or company where as in
internet the information is shared world wide with any public user to explain in simple terms, intranet is private, within the organization
while internet is public available for global access requirement. Thus, Intranet is like a private Internet.

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 Benefits of intranets
Workforce productivity:
Intranets can help users to locate and view information faster and use app. relevant to their roles and responsibilities. With
the help of a web browser interface, users can access data held in any database the organization wants to make available, anytime and
- subject to security provisions – from anywhere within the company workstations, increasing employees' ability to perform their jobs
faster, more accurately, and with confidence that they have the right information. It also helps to improve the services provided to the
users.

Time:
With intranets, organizations can make more information available to employees on a "pull" basis (i.e., employees can link
to relevant information at a time which suits them) rather than being deluged indiscriminately by emails.

Communication:
Intranets can serve as powerful tools for communication within an organization, vertically and horizontally. From a
communications standpoint, intranets are useful to communicate strategic initiatives that have a global reach throughout the
organization. The type of information that can easily be conveyed is the purpose of the initiative and what the initiative is aiming to
achieve, who is driving the initiative, results achieved to date, and who to speak to for more information. By providing this information on
the intranet, staff has the opportunity to keep up-to-date with the strategic focus of the organization.

Cost-effective:
Most organizations have already established TCP/IP networks, and the incremental infrastructure cost of adding Web
servers to the network is well within even departmental-level budgets. Users can view information and data via web-browser rather than
maintaining physical documents such as procedure manuals, internal phone list and requisition forms.

Low maintenance
With information residing in only one place - the Web server - it is relatively easy and affordable to add new information or
to update existing information and make it instantly available.

WLANs (Wireless local area networks) using spread spectrum transmission

Spread spectrum is a form of wireless communications in which the frequency of the transmitted signal is deliberately varied. This
results in a much greater bandwidth than the signal would have if its frequency were not varied.

Wireless Networking: What is it?

To loosely define the term wireless networking is to say that it is any connection between two points for the purpose of transmitting

information without any physical connection, i.e. fiber optics, copper wires, phone lines, etc.

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