Bus Network, in computer science, a topology (configuration) for a local
area network in which all nodes are connected to a main communications line
(bus). On a bus network, each node monitors activity on the line. Messages are
detected by all nodes but are accepted only by the node(s) to which they are
addressed. Because a bus network relies on a common data 'highway,' a
malfunctioning node simply ceases to communicate; it doesn't disrupt operation
as it might on a ring network, in which messages are passed from one node to the
next. To avoid collisions that occur when two or more nodes try to use the line
at the same time, bus networks commonly rely on collision detection or Token
Passing to regulate traffic.Star NetworkStar Network, in computer science, a
local area network in which each device (node) is connected to a central
computer in a star-shaped configuration (topology); commonly, a network
consisting of a central computer (the hub) surrounded by terminals. In a star
network, messages pass directly from a node to the central computer, which
handles any further routing (as to another node) that might be necessary. A star
network is reliable in the sense that a node can fail without affecting any
other node on the network. Its weakness, however, is that failure of the central
computer results in a shutdown of the entire network. And because each node is
individually wired to the hub, cabling costs can be high.Ring networkRing
Network, in computer science, a local area network in which devices (nodes) are
connected in a closed loop, or ring. Messages in a ring network pass in one
direction, from node to node. As a message travels around the ring, each node
examines the destination address attached to the message. If the address is the
same as the address assigned to the node, the node accepts the message;
otherwise, it regenerates the signal and passes the message along to the next
node in the circle. Such regeneration allows a ring network to cover larger
distances than star and bus networks. It can also be designed to bypass any
malfunctioning or failed node. Because of the closed loop, however, new nodes
can be difficult to add. A ring network is diagrammed below.Asynchrous Transfer
ModeATM is a new networking technology standard for high-speed, high-capacity
voice, data, text andvideo transmission that will soon transform the way
businesses and all types of organizationscommunicate. It will enable the
management of information, integration of systems andcommunications between
individuals in ways that, to some extent, haven't even been conceived yet. ATM
can transmit more than 10 million cells per second,resulting in higher capacity,
faster delivery and greater reliability. ATM simplifies information transfer
and exchange by compartmentalizing information into uniformsegments called cells.
These cells allow any type of information--from voice to video--to betransmitted
over almost any type of digitized communications medium (fiber optics, copper
wire,cable). This simplification can eliminate the need for redundant local and
wide area networks anderadicate the bottlenecks that plague current networking
systems. Eventually, global standardizationwill enable information to move from
country to country, at least as fast as it now moves from officeto office, in
many cases faster.Fiber Distributed Data Interface. The Fiber Distributed Data
Interface (FDDI) modules from Bay Networks are designed forhigh-performance,
high-availability connectivity in support of internetwork topologies that
include: Campus or building ...