00. LAN

A computer network is a system of interconnected devices that can share data. The internet is a network of networks.

LAN Topologies

The physical or logical layout of a LAN.

• Bus Topology
  • All devices share a single common communication line (the bus).
  • Simple but inefficient, as only one device can transmit at a time, and a break in the main cable can take down the entire network.
• Ring Topology
  • Devices are connected in a circle, with data passing from one device to the next until it reaches its destination.
  • More orderly than a bus but can have a single point of failure if one device goes down.
• Star Topology
  • All devices are connected to a central point, like a switch or hub.
  • The dominant model for modern LANs because it is robust; a failure in one cable or device doesn't affect the others.