Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK SYSTEMS
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DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK SYSTEMS
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Subject: Computing
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 15
Grade code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 2.1.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.1.3.LI.3
Theme: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE & ORGANISATION
Subtheme: DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK SYSTEMS
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Welcome, learners! Today, we are going to explore the basic structure of computer networks. Think about our school's computer lab, a local internet café (cyber café), or even how mobile money agents connect to their main office. All these systems need a plan, a layout, to work effectively. This layout or arrangement is called a network topology. Understanding different topologies is very important because the choice of topology affects a network's cost, speed, reliability, and how easy it is to manage.
What is a Network Topology?
A network topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of computers, cables, and other devices on a network. Think of it as the network's map or blueprint. Physical Topology: This is the actual layout of the wires (the physical structure). This is what we will focus on today. Logical Topology: This is how data actually moves across the network, regardless of its physical layout.
Analogy: Imagine the tro-tro routes in Accra. The *physical topology* is the actual roads the buses follow. The *logical topology* might be the specific sequence of stops the "Circle-Madina" tro-tro makes. Today, we are looking at the roads themselves.
We will focus on three fundamental physical topologies: Bus, Star, and Ring.