Unit 5
Chapter 2
LAN Topologies
Bus Topology
Ring Topology
Ring: Token Ring
Star Topology
Mesh Topology
Mesh: Full vs Partial Mesh
Hybrid Topology
Physical vs. Logical
Now we go one layer deeper.
A bus is a linear network – both physically and logically.
A star topology is physically a star (think of a hub or switch at the center of a group of hosts.
But a star topology in Ethernet physically looks like a start – but at the logical level, the way it actually functions, it uses a bus topology. Think of it this way: if you took all the wiring out of a hub and laid it out, you’d find it’s actually arranged as a bus.
This creates a “Physical Star but Logical Bus” topology. Ethernet hubs and switches use it, but so do Token Ring concentrators.
Wireless Networking
Wireless NICs
Access Points (APs)
Wireless Bridges: Point to Point / Point to Multipoint
Wireless Networking Software
Modes: Ad-hoc vs. Infrastructure
BSSID: Basic Service Set ID (the WAP’s MAC)
SSID: Service Set ID (the network name with a single WAP)
ESSID: Extended Service Set ID (the network name for a network with multiple WAPs)
CSMA/CA
Wireless Networking Security
802.1x (usually using RADIUS)
MAC Filtering
WEP
64 bit encryption
Shared, static key
128 bit encryption
Key variants: Enterprise 802.1x vs. Personal PSK
WPA2
WPA3
WPS (DANGER DANGER!!)
Exercise:
WAP Configuration