Network Topologies:
o Topology is physical layout of computers, cables & other components on network.
o There are several different network topologies & network may be built using multiple.
o The different types of network layouts are Bus topology, Star topology, Mesh topology.
o Other are Ring topology, Hybrid topology, tree topology and Wireless topology & more.
o Network topology is the layout of a network, it consists of two parts; physical and logical.
o Network Topology, the physical part describes the physical layout of a computer network.
o Network Topology, while the logical part describes how the data flows in that network.
Bus Topology:
o In this topology, all computers connect through a single continuous coaxial cable.
o In this bus Topology This coaxial cable is known as the backbone cable of topology.
o Both ends of the backbone cable are terminated through the terminators.
o In Bus Topology to connect a computer to the backbone cable, a drop cable is used.
o To connect drop cable to the computer and backbone cable, the BNC plug and BNC T.
o Cable length required for this topology is the least compared to other networks.
o Easy to set-up & extend bus network, costs very less, less expensive than other topologies.
o Dependency on central cable If main cable some problem, whole network breaks down.
o Security is very low because all the computers receive the sent signal from the source.
o Signal from source is broadcasted and it travels to all workstations connected to bus cable.
o In Bus Topology terminator is added at ends of central cable, to prevent bouncing of signals.
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Star Topology:
o A star topology is designed with each node like workstations, printers, laptops, servers etc.
o In Start topology every end device is directly connected to a central device called switch.
o Each workstation has a cable that goes from its network card to a network switch.
o Most popular & widely used LAN technology Ethernet currently operates in Star Topology.
o Easy to install & wire no disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices.
o In Start Topology the fault can be easy detect and easy to remove parts from the network.
o If the switch fails, nodes attached are cannot participate in network communication.
o Requires more cable length more expensive than bus topology because of Switch cost.
Mesh Topology:
o In Mesh topology, every network device is connected to other network devices.
o Mesh topology is costly because of the extra cables needed and it is very complex.
o The main advantage of mesh topology is multiple paths to the destination computer.
o difficult to manage but If one link is down, have another path to reach the destination.
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Hybrid Topology:
o Hybrid topology is a mixture of different topologies, Example is star-bus-ring topology.
o two networks; one is built from star topology and another is built from the bus topology.
o If connect both networks to build single large network, topology of new network is hybrid.
o You can combine any of topology with another topology to build the Hybrid Topology.
o Hybrid topology is mostly used to mix the wired network with the wireless network.
Ring Topology:
o In a ring topology, all computers are connected via cable that loops in a ring or circle.
o In ring topology each device is connected with the two devices on either side of it.
o In Ring Topology data moves down a one-way path from one computer to another.
o When data signals pass from one computer to next, each computer regenerates signals.
o Link failure can fail the entire network as the signal will not travel forward due to failure.
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Point-to-Point Topology:
o Point to Point topology is simplest topology connects two nodes directly.
o The Packets sent from one site are delivered to the other and vice versa.
o Point-to-point connections are used to connect LANs to service provider WANs.
o Entire bandwidth of common link is reserved for transmission between two nodes.
o Alternatively, it is also used to connect a node or computer directly to a switch.
o Connection between the switch and the computer is a real point-to-point connection.
o Point-to-point connections can be used to connect switches or routers to each other.
Point-to-Multipoint Topology:
o This topology, end device connects directly to multiple end devices in the network.
o In a multipoint connection ,the link is between a sender and multiple receivers.
o A variation to the point-to-point topology is the point-to-multipoint topology.
o Point-to-multipoint topology one device connecting to the multiple devices.
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