Network topologies

I am planning to design a home network for a cable internet connection.

I have two choices that I would like your opinion on….
Down below I have an attachment of an image file that I have created. Please let me know the advantage and disadvantage of each….


1. I am connecting 3 – 5 computers
2. I will be using cable internet
3. I plan to hook up a wireless later but to expensive right now.
4. three of the computers are laptops
5. I will be using Cat-5 with standerd RJ-45 connectors
8. I will be using Windows XP on all computers

I am planning to design a home network for a cable internet connection.

I have two choices that I would like your opinion on….
Down below I have an attachment of an image file that I have created. Please let me know the advantage and disadvantage of each….


1. I am connecting 3 – 5 computers
2. I will be using cable internet
3. I plan to hook up a wireless later but to expensive right now.
4. three of the computers are laptops
5. I will be using Cat-5 with standerd RJ-45 connectors
8. I will be using Windows XP on all computers

Basically, you save a piece of hardware if you go with the linksys nat device/switch combo. Switched networks are also superior since there is no packet replication. A hub sends packets to every connected device, a switch sends it only to the device with the appropriate MAC address. Option 2 is better for those reasons. Option 1 would be better if you are wanting to setup a proxy server or something on the gateway/firewall computer. If you already have a hub and the spare hardware for the gateway/firewall, option 1 could prove to be less expensive, otherwise it would be more expensive.

Basically, you save a piece of hardware if you go with the linksys nat device/switch combo. Switched networks are also superior since there is no packet replication. A hub sends packets to every connected device, a switch sends it only to the device with the appropriate MAC address. Option 2 is better for those reasons. Option 1 would be better if you are wanting to setup a proxy server or something on the gateway/firewall computer. If you already have a hub and the spare hardware for the gateway/firewall, option 1 could prove to be less expensive, otherwise it would be more expensive.

Hubs generally in my opinion arent great as they allow for ease of sniffing easier.

on my home network, I have something like this

modem-->firewall(486 box)-->switch--->computers

it works fine and it was very cheap...

what are you thinking of using for the firewall?

i2c

Hubs generally in my opinion arent great as they allow for ease of sniffing easier.

on my home network, I have something like this

modem-->firewall(486 box)-->switch--->computers

it works fine and it was very cheap...

what are you thinking of using for the firewall?

i2c

my network looks very similar to the second picture. i have a linksys cable modem that goes into a linksys 802.11g broadband wireless router (has both wired and wireless capabilities). My 2 desktops are wired to the router and my laptop is wireless.

The linksys router has a built in firewall which i guess is good, but i still have a software firewall running on each computer.

As for wireless being too expensive.. I think the difference from the normal router and the wireless one i am using was like $30. So i'd rather spend $90 now than 60 for a router then another 60 for wireless later. Of course, with the 802.11i spec comming out, waiting might be to your advantage. It just depends what you are looking at into the future.

of course, with any wireless discussion... there's the necessary security rant... WEP or WAP, mac address filtering... etc...

BTW: what happened to items 6 and 7?

my network looks very similar to the second picture. i have a linksys cable modem that goes into a linksys 802.11g broadband wireless router (has both wired and wireless capabilities). My 2 desktops are wired to the router and my laptop is wireless.

The linksys router has a built in firewall which i guess is good, but i still have a software firewall running on each computer.

As for wireless being too expensive.. I think the difference from the normal router and the wireless one i am using was like $30. So i'd rather spend $90 now than 60 for a router then another 60 for wireless later. Of course, with the 802.11i spec comming out, waiting might be to your advantage. It just depends what you are looking at into the future.

of course, with any wireless discussion... there's the necessary security rant... WEP or WAP, mac address filtering... etc...

BTW: what happened to items 6 and 7?

For a topolgy
Mesh? lol

I gotta go with chsh on this one and say #2 is a good choice.
Even if you are wanting to have some sort of server set up you can always do port forwarding via the the linksys.
I think it would be simpler to go with #2 as well and is pretty easy to set up.

My network setup on my home and office is like this

home
DSL --- Linksys Router --- PC's

work
Satelite Modem --- Cisco 831 router/firewall --- 24 port switch --- 20 PC's

For a topolgy
Mesh? lol

I gotta go with chsh on this one and say #2 is a good choice.
Even if you are wanting to have some sort of server set up you can always do port forwarding via the the linksys.
I think it would be simpler to go with #2 as well and is pretty easy to set up.

My network setup on my home and office is like this

home
DSL --- Linksys Router --- PC's

work
Satelite Modem --- Cisco 831 router/firewall --- 24 port switch --- 20 PC's

Me: If you are referring to a simple linksys hub in example 1 with no NAT/firewall ability then you are going to have to pay the cable company for the additional IP addresses. That will be a fiscal issue which you have already mentioned yourself, so option 2 is the better way to go.

You might want to "bite the bullet" and spend for the wireless router right now, If you don't want to use it now you can disable the wireless IIRC, but it will save you two purchases that will probably exceed the cost of the single cost now.

Other than that, option 2 is pretty much "plug and play". Set all the devices to dhcp both the IP and the DNS and it should run right away.

Me: If you are referring to a simple linksys hub in example 1 with no NAT/firewall ability then you are going to have to pay the cable company for the additional IP addresses. That will be a fiscal issue which you have already mentioned yourself, so option 2 is the better way to go.

You might want to "bite the bullet" and spend for the wireless router right now, If you don't want to use it now you can disable the wireless IIRC, but it will save you two purchases that will probably exceed the cost of the single cost now.

Other than that, option 2 is pretty much "plug and play". Set all the devices to dhcp both the IP and the DNS and it should run right away.

I'll just set out the three main types of topology, with a brief outline of pro's and con's.
Then let you decide which it is to be.

1 ) Star :- At the centre of the star is a wiring Hub or Repeater. Signals pass into the Hub, then out to ALL computers connected to it.

Advantages :-
Easy to add to.
Easy to troubleshoot.
A single failure will not affect other computers.
Disadvantages :-
Lose the Hub, lose the lot.
Limited distance (100m)
Expensive to cable the larger set-ups, as each unit requires a seperate run.

2 ) Ring (Token) :- this topology takes the form of a closed loop, each workstation is connected to Multistation Access Unit (MAU). The signals travel from one station to another, if a station is faulty or disconnected, the MAU will by-pass it to maintain the ring.

Data is moved in one direction only, if the message is not for that station, the signal is re-generated, and passed on. This helps to over come the distance limitations of the Star topology.

Advantages :-
Easy to install.
The regeneration of the signal helps to stop degredation.
Token passing gives fair access for all stations.

Disadvantages :-
Difficult to re-configure
One station down MAY stop the system.

Bus :- All stations are connected to a trunk cable. All nodes of the system are connected to the cable in a straight line. All stations receive the data at the same time. The station with the correct address will accept it, all the rest will ignore it. The stations are passive, they listen, and DO NOT re-generate the signal.

Advantages :-
Cheap
Quick and easy install
Simple topology
Easy to extend

Disadvantages :-
Hard to troubleshoot
More stations will increase traffic, and reduce performance.


Obviously, there is more to it than this, but this will allow you to make an informed (BUS) choice, and the details can be filled as you progress.

Happy Networking. :)

I'll just set out the three main types of topology, with a brief outline of pro's and con's.
Then let you decide which it is to be.

1 ) Star :- At the centre of the star is a wiring Hub or Repeater. Signals pass into the Hub, then out to ALL computers connected to it.

Advantages :-
Easy to add to.
Easy to troubleshoot.
A single failure will not affect other computers.
Disadvantages :-
Lose the Hub, lose the lot.
Limited distance (100m)
Expensive to cable the larger set-ups, as each unit requires a seperate run.

2 ) Ring (Token) :- this topology takes the form of a closed loop, each workstation is connected to Multistation Access Unit (MAU). The signals travel from one station to another, if a station is faulty or disconnected, the MAU will by-pass it to maintain the ring.

Data is moved in one direction only, if the message is not for that station, the signal is re-generated, and passed on. This helps to over come the distance limitations of the Star topology.

Advantages :-
Easy to install.
The regeneration of the signal helps to stop degredation.
Token passing gives fair access for all stations.

Disadvantages :-
Difficult to re-configure
One station down MAY stop the system.

Bus :- All stations are connected to a trunk cable. All nodes of the system are connected to the cable in a straight line. All stations receive the data at the same time. The station with the correct address will accept it, all the rest will ignore it. The stations are passive, they listen, and DO NOT re-generate the signal.

Advantages :-
Cheap
Quick and easy install
Simple topology
Easy to extend

Disadvantages :-
Hard to troubleshoot
More stations will increase traffic, and reduce performance.


Obviously, there is more to it than this, but this will allow you to make an informed (BUS) choice, and the details can be filled as you progress.

Happy Networking. :)

Quote:

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Originally posted here by Tiger Shark
Me: If you are referring to a simple linksys hub in example 1 with no NAT/firewall ability then you are going to have to pay the cable company for the additional IP addresses. That will be a fiscal issue which you have already mentioned yourself, so option 2 is the better way to go.

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If you check his diagram, there is a firewall/gateway device in there. I would presume he is going to be using that to do the NAT/Firewalling.

Quote:

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Originally posted here by Tiger Shark
Me: If you are referring to a simple linksys hub in example 1 with no NAT/firewall ability then you are going to have to pay the cable company for the additional IP addresses. That will be a fiscal issue which you have already mentioned yourself, so option 2 is the better way to go.

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If you check his diagram, there is a firewall/gateway device in there. I would presume he is going to be using that to do the NAT/Firewalling.

Quote:

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Obviously, there is more to it than this, but this will allow you to make an informed (BUS) choice, and the details can be filled as you progress.

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Uhhh... why is bus the choice since the media is RJ-45? Last time I checked, this means it's a star network and would use switches, hubs, etc. I don't think that a lesson on networking was needed but rather an opinion on the two designs untuchable-me presented.

And I have to agree with chsh. I'd go with option 2 and add some cheap/free host-based firewalls/IDS. Why have the extra hardware. In addition, it would be worthwhile to do some hardening of the hosts as an added layer to the overall, regardless of which option is chosen.

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Obviously, there is more to it than this, but this will allow you to make an informed (BUS) choice, and the details can be filled as you progress.

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Uhhh... why is bus the choice since the media is RJ-45? Last time I checked, this means it's a star network and would use switches, hubs, etc. I don't think that a lesson on networking was needed but rather an opinion on the two designs untuchable-me presented.

And I have to agree with chsh. I'd go with option 2 and add some cheap/free host-based firewalls/IDS. Why have the extra hardware. In addition, it would be worthwhile to do some hardening of the hosts as an added layer to the overall, regardless of which option is chosen.

yes i concer with option number two....... i just wanted to get another opinion....

i have done alot of research on the subject... this network will come in handy concidering i im starting my network support technition college classes next fall......

thanks or all your help... since my greenies don't mean much right now this with have to do....


thank you, thank you, and thank you.........

yes i concer with option number two....... i just wanted to get another opinion....

i have done alot of research on the subject... this network will come in handy concidering i im starting my network support technition college classes next fall......

thanks or all your help... since my greenies don't mean much right now this with have to do....


thank you, thank you, and thank you.........

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i have done alot of research on the subject... this network will come in handy concidering i im starting my network support technition college classes next fall......

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Indeed! Now the challenge becomes, can you break into them to test the strength of your security and to see if any holes exist. Just because you build it and it looks secure doesn't mean it is. Heck, look at the Titanic! :D

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i have done alot of research on the subject... this network will come in handy concidering i im starting my network support technition college classes next fall......

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Indeed! Now the challenge becomes, can you break into them to test the strength of your security and to see if any holes exist. Just because you build it and it looks secure doesn't mean it is. Heck, look at the Titanic! :D

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Heck, look at the Titanic!

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Actually, after all this time and what it went through it still looks pretty complete... It's just not in the right place.... ;)

Ms. M., as usual, makes and excellent point.......

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Heck, look at the Titanic!

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Actually, after all this time and what it went through it still looks pretty complete... It's just not in the right place.... ;)

Ms. M., as usual, makes and excellent point.......

Quote:

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Indeed! Now the challenge becomes, can you break into them to test the strength of your security and to see if any holes exist. Just because you build it and it looks secure doesn't mean it is. Heck, look at the Titanic!

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yes i can, and believe me bata testing my network is the first think i plan to do.... in fact this is one of the reason i would like to set up a network....

Quote:

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Indeed! Now the challenge becomes, can you break into them to test the strength of your security and to see if any holes exist. Just because you build it and it looks secure doesn't mean it is. Heck, look at the Titanic!

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yes i can, and believe me bata testing my network is the first think i plan to do.... in fact this is one of the reason i would like to set up a network....