Introduction
This essay explores the design of a local area network (LAN) for a small graphic design firm expanding from a single office to a suite of three adjacent rooms. The firm requires a network to connect eight workstations, two network printers, and a central server for storing project files. A well-designed LAN is essential to facilitate efficient communication, resource sharing, and data management, which are critical to the firm’s operations. This essay describes three common network topologies—bus, star, and ring—that could be implemented in this context. For each topology, a diagrammatic representation of the physical layout is provided, along with an analysis of two advantages and two disadvantages tailored to the firm’s specific needs. The discussion aims to assist the firm’s manager in understanding the key trade-offs involved in selecting a network design. Finally, a recommendation is offered based on the analysis to guide the firm toward an optimal solution.
Bus Topology
In a bus topology, all devices are connected to a single central cable, known as the backbone, with terminators at each end to prevent signal reflection. For the graphic design firm, the eight workstations, two printers, and the central server would be connected along this backbone, typically using coaxial or Ethernet cables.
Diagram (Textual Description): Imagine a straight line representing the backbone cable running through the three rooms. Eleven devices (eight workstations, two printers, and one server) are depicted as rectangular icons, each connected to the backbone via short vertical lines representing drop cables. Two small circles at the ends of the backbone indicate terminators. This linear arrangement reflects the simplicity of the bus topology.
Advantages
Firstly, bus topology is cost-effective, an important consideration for a small firm with potentially limited resources. It requires minimal cabling compared to other topologies since only one main cable is needed, reducing installation costs across the three rooms (Tanenbaum and Wetherall, 2011). Secondly, it is relatively easy to set up and maintain, which suits a small business lacking dedicated IT staff. Adding or removing devices involves simply connecting or disconnecting them from the backbone, making it a practical choice for a firm that may expand further in the future.
Disadvantages
However, bus topology has notable drawbacks. One significant issue is its vulnerability to failure; if the backbone cable is damaged or disconnected, the entire network becomes inoperable, which could severely disrupt the firm’s access to shared project files on the server (Stallings, 2014). Additionally, performance can degrade as more devices are added. With eight workstations and two printers frequently accessing the server, data collisions on the single cable could slow down file transfers, hindering productivity during peak usage.
Star Topology
In a star topology, each device is connected directly to a central hub or switch, which manages data traffic. For the firm, all eight workstations, two printers, and the server would have individual connections to a central switch located in one of the rooms, creating a star-like configuration.
Diagram (Textual Description): Picture a central circle representing the switch, positioned in the middle of the layout. Eleven lines radiate outward from this circle, each connecting to a rectangular icon representing a workstation, printer, or server. These connections span across the three rooms, illustrating how each device links independently to the central point, ensuring no direct device-to-device connection.
Advantages
A key advantage of star topology is its reliability. If one cable fails, only the connected device is affected, leaving the rest of the network operational—a critical feature for the firm to maintain workflow if a single workstation or printer malfunctions (Tanenbaum and Wetherall, 2011). Furthermore, it offers improved performance and scalability. The central switch can manage data traffic efficiently, minimising collisions even with multiple devices accessing the server simultaneously, which is ideal for the graphic design firm handling large project files.
Disadvantages
On the downside, star topology is more expensive due to the higher amount of cabling required to connect each device individually to the central switch. This could strain the firm’s budget, especially when wiring across three rooms (Stallings, 2014). Additionally, the network’s functionality depends entirely on the central switch. If it fails, the entire network collapses, halting access to shared resources and potentially disrupting critical deadlines for design projects.
Ring Topology
In a ring topology, devices are connected in a circular manner, with each device linked to two others, forming a closed loop. Data travels in one direction around the ring. For the firm, the eight workstations, two printers, and server would be interconnected in this loop across the three rooms.
Diagram (Textual Description): Envision a circular loop spanning the three rooms. Eleven rectangular icons (representing workstations, printers, and server) are placed along the circumference of the loop, with short lines indicating direct connections between adjacent devices. Arrows on the loop show the unidirectional flow of data, completing the ring structure.
Advantages
One advantage of ring topology is its predictable performance. Since data flows in a single direction, there are fewer chances of collisions, ensuring stable transfer speeds when accessing project files on the server—a benefit for the firm’s need for consistent data access (Forouzan, 2013). Additionally, it can handle high traffic loads effectively, as each device acts as a repeater, regenerating the signal, which could support the firm’s frequent file-sharing activities between workstations and the server.
Disadvantages
Nevertheless, ring topology poses challenges. A major drawback is its susceptibility to failure; if one device or cable in the loop fails, the entire network is disrupted, which could be catastrophic for the firm if urgent access to project files is needed (Forouzan, 2013). Moreover, it is complex to modify or expand. Adding a new workstation would require breaking the ring temporarily, causing downtime—an inconvenience for a growing firm that may need to integrate additional devices in the future.
Recommendation and Trade-Offs
Selecting the most appropriate topology for the graphic design firm involves weighing the trade-offs between cost, reliability, and scalability. Bus topology, while inexpensive and simple, risks network-wide failure and performance issues, making it less suitable for a firm reliant on constant access to shared resources. Ring topology offers stable performance but is equally prone to complete disruption if a single point fails, and its complexity in expansion could hinder future growth. Star topology, though costlier, provides the best balance for the firm’s needs. Its reliability ensures that individual device failures do not affect the broader network, which is critical for maintaining workflow across multiple design projects. Additionally, its scalability supports potential expansion, aligning with the firm’s growth trajectory.
Indeed, the main trade-off with star topology is the initial investment in cabling and a central switch. However, this can be mitigated by opting for affordable yet reliable hardware and planning the layout to minimise cable lengths across the three rooms. Therefore, as an expert in network design, I recommend the star topology for the firm. It offers a robust foundation for their current setup of eight workstations, two printers, and a server, while also accommodating future needs with minimal disruption.
Conclusion
In conclusion, designing a LAN for a small graphic design firm expanding into three adjacent rooms requires careful consideration of network topologies to meet operational demands. This essay has evaluated bus, star, and ring topologies, detailing their physical layouts through descriptive diagrams and analysing their respective advantages and disadvantages in the context of the firm’s needs. Bus topology is cost-effective but unreliable, ring topology ensures steady performance yet is inflexible, and star topology, while more expensive, provides superior reliability and scalability. The recommended choice of star topology reflects a strategic balance of cost and performance, ensuring the firm can maintain efficient access to project files and adapt to future growth. Ultimately, understanding these trade-offs enables the firm’s manager to make an informed decision that supports both current operations and long-term objectives. This analysis underscores the importance of aligning network design with organisational priorities, a principle that remains central to effective IT infrastructure planning in any small business setting.
References
- Forouzan, B.A. (2013) Data Communications and Networking. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Stallings, W. (2014) Data and Computer Communications. 10th ed. Pearson Education.
- Tanenbaum, A.S. and Wetherall, D.J. (2011) Computer Networks. 5th ed. Pearson Education.
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