Tyco 4100U Network Configuration, 3.Hub/Ring Configuration, Continued on next page

Network Configuration

Overview

Hub and Star Configurations

The 4100 can be expanded to a network system by using network interface cards (NICs). When a NIC is installed into a 4100 host panel, it is used to connect to other network nodes. Nodes may consist of other host 4100 panels, or they may be completely different: Graphical Command Centers (GCCs), and Visual Command Centers (VCCs) are all examples of what could be used as nodes. A node is a self-sufficient CPU that controls appliances and devices, which also has the capability of controlling and communicating with other nodes.

The network configuration supports two prevalent architectures (or wiring configurations): hub (or ring), or star. A networked system can also use a combination of the two.

The hub configuration consists of a main loop with nodes connected in a radial manner. The star configuration consists of several nodes connected directly to one common node. Physical bridge cards are used for the star configuration. Physical bridges reduce the amount of wire that would otherwise be needed to connect all nodes in a loop, and therefore cut down on system response time. A combination of the two styles is illustrated in Figure 1-3.

	Ring Topology
Graphic Command	Network Display Unit
Center (GCC)
	(NDU) Hub Node

Physical Bridge Links

(Star Topology)

Distributed Remote

Node Locations

Figure 1-3. Hub/Ring Configuration

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