Summary

6 IT Essentials: PC Harware and Software Companion GuideFigure 15-1Types of TopologiesIf a floor plan or blueprint is not available, you should make a drawing of where the networkdevices will be located, including the location of the server room, the printers, the endstations, and cable runs. This drawing can be used for discussions when the customermakes the final layout decisions.Determine Protocols and Network ApplicationsWhen designing a network, you must determine which protocols will be used. Some protocolsare proprietary and work on only specific equipment, and others are open standardsand work on a variety of equipment. Here are the details of the various network protocols:■■■Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) represents a set of publicstandards that specify how packets of information are exchanged between computersover one or more networks. The TCP/IP suite of protocols has become the dominantstandard for internetworking.Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX) is the protocolsuite employed originally by Novell Corporation’s network operating system,NetWare. It delivers functions similar to those included in TCP/IP. Novell in its currentreleases supports the TCP/IP suite. A large installed base of NetWare networks continueto use IPX/SPX.NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI) is a protocol used primarily on smallWindows NT networks. NetBEUI cannot be routed or used by routers to talk to eachother on a large network. NetBEUI is suitable for small peer-to-peer networks involvinga few computers directly connected to each other. It can be used in conjunctionwith another routable protocol such as TCP/IP. This gives the network administrator theadvantages of the high performance of NetBEUI within the local network and the capabilityto communicate beyond the LAN over TCP/IP.