Network Simulation for Small Businesses - Literature review Example

Network design involves the connectivity of computers in order to enable the transmission of data from one location to another within the same building or other buildings. In the network design, there are four elements that are necessary to enable connectivity which include the protocol, network connection, network topology, and network security. In network topology, various types are available for use and they include ring network, bus network, and star network(Stewart and Adams, 2008).

There are a number of network topologies that are available since they facilitate network security. These include ring topology, star topology, and bus topology, however, small businesses are recommended to use star topology because of its ability to facilitate identification of faulty when there is a network breakdown (White, White, Fisch and Pooch, 1996). In star topology, if there is a breakdown except one, the system is not affected. This allows repairs that return connectivity. It also allows connectivity to many computers because of its star nature.

In-ring topology, all machines are connected to each other as in a ring that is one computer can be connected to one or two computers and any other connection from a third or fourth computer can be accessed from another computer. This topology is tedious in establishing a network and it involves high bandwidth. In the case of pass topology, the connection is done using Ethernet where all computers are connected to a certain cable that transmits information. This topology is less costly in setting up but insecure and costly in maintenance.

In addition, bus topology is risky to entire connectivity as it utilizes one cable which when broken, communication is halted (Stewart, 2010). Star topology is the most preferred because it requires less cost when adding new devices to the network, there are two other advanced technologies: extended star can be applied whereby repeaters or hubs are placed between a physical star topology that gives extra space for connectivity (McFarland, Sambi, Sharma and Hooda, 2011).