Specifications

Page 28 DocSTAR Level 2 Service Training Workbook
Section 1: Network Topologies
? This section will cover different configurations and topologies of network design.
A Network is a group of two or more PC’s and peripherals sharing each other’s resources
over a transmission/reception media such as: network cabling, phone lines, and wireless
communications. There are two distinct configurations that describe a network in
geographical terms.
The first is a LAN or Local Area Network. A LAN is a network that resides in one
geographical location, possibly on multiple floors. A LAN is an inexpensive way to share
PC and peripheral resources. It allows you to share files, storage media, printers, fax
machines, scanners and many other peripherals among many users. Most large LANs
have network administrators that oversee the LAN.
The second is a WAN or Wide Area Network. A WAN is a network that resides in two or
more geographical locations, usually separated by miles or hundreds of miles. A WAN is
usually a collection of LANs linked together by an expensive lower speed connection than
a LAN, usually a T1 or Fractional T1 line provided by the local phone company. LANs
usually communicate at 10-100Mbps. WAN links usually communicate at: Full
T1=1.544Mbps or Fractional T1 which is one or more channels out of 24 channels that
communicate at 64Kbps=# of channels x 64Kbps. Whenever a WAN link is involved it
is suggested that Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server/Windows 2000 Terminal
Services be used to give WAN clients access to DocSTAR. In addition, whenever
Web access is requested it is suggested that Citrix Metaframe Software w/NFUSE
be used to give Web clients access to DocSTAR.
What is a network topology?
A Network Topology is the basic design or physical layout of a network’s computers,
cables, hubs, and components. There are three basic network topologies from which
many hybrid designs have arisen. These are the three basic network topologies:
? BUS
? RING
? STAR
The BUS topology very closely resembles that of a SCSI Bus, in that it is linear in nature
and requires termination at both physical ‘ends.’ Termination may be accomplished by
the network card itself or external terminators as shown in Figure 3.1. In the bus topology
computers are connected in a row along a single cable.
Figure 3.1: Simple Bus Network Topology