N-GEN Communications Web-based Seminars ©NGCS

Seminar - An Overview of Communications Technologies

Module 7 - LAN, WAN, VPN, WLAN, MAN, FDDI and Optical MANS                                                       Slide 6 of 45 _________________                                                                                  __________

                                                LAN Topologies

                                                   Bus

                                                Ring

                                                Star

                                                Tree

_________________                                                                                  __________

Most common topologies are Bus and Ring. Bus topology is used in Ethernet LANs. Ring topology is used in Token Ring LANs.

Bus Topology: Stations are attached to a channel (such as coaxial cable or optical fiber) by a bus unit. Bus Interface Units are responsible to listen to the signals on the bus

Ring Topology: The stations are connected to a concentric ring through a Ring Interface Unit. Each Ring Interface Unit is responsible to monitor the data passing through it as well as to regenerate the signal and pass it to the next station.