A topology is the physical arrangement of a network. In this article, we will discuss some common topologies and how they function.
A topology is the physical arrangement of a network.
A topology is the physical arrangement of a network. It determines how the network is connected and how data travels through it. Topologies can be divided into two main categories: linear and non-linear.
Linear topologies include bus, star, ring and mesh networks while non-linear topologies include tree and daisy chain (star).
Star topology
In a star topology, each node is connected to the central hub. All traffic must pass through the hub; therefore, if it fails or becomes disconnected from its power source, all other nodes will lose communication with one another.
The advantage of this type of network design is that it’s very easy to install and troubleshoot because all devices are located in close proximity to one another. You can also easily add new computers as needed by simply plugging them into an available port on your existing hubs–no need for additional wiring or cabling!
However: if something goes wrong with your main router/switch/server (or any other device), then everything else relies on those components working properly–which means there’s potential for major disruptions when something breaks down at either end (or both).
Ring topology
Ring topologies are used in token ring networks. A ring topology is also used for local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and campus area networks (CANs).
In a ring network, each node has two or more connections to other nodes that form the ring. Each connection is called a portion of the “ring” because all nodes have at least two physical links that connect them together into one logical path around which data can travel clockwise or counterclockwise depending on how you look at it–like an actual circle!
When you’re looking down from above onto this type of network configuration, it looks like there’s only one cable running from one computer through another computer back again before arriving at another location where yet another cable takes over so that no single point becomes overloaded with traffic coming from too many different sources at once…and thus causing congestion within itself by slowing down due to overuse/overload just like what happens when there isn’t enough oxygen available during exercise such as sprinting long distances outdoors where there aren’t enough trees nearby being able to help filter out harmful pollutants found within smoggy cities like Los Angeles California USA where I live now after moving away from New York City USA because they didn’t have any jobs available anymore due partly due bad weather conditions like hurricanes etcetera…
Tree topology
A tree topology is a network topology in which all nodes are connected to a central node. The central node is the root node, which serves as the starting point for all other nodes in the tree.
A hierarchical network consists of multiple layers of devices connected by communication links and interconnecting routers or switches that allow data packets to be forwarded from one layer or segment to another based on their destination address (i.e., MAC addresses).
Bus topology
Bus topology is a network topology in which all the nodes are connected to a common transmission medium, known as the bus.
Bus networks are simple, inexpensive and easy to install. They’re generally used for small networks that don’t need high reliability or speed. One disadvantage of bus topologies is that if one node fails, it can bring down the entire network because all other computers depend on it for communication with each other (this problem can be minimized by using redundant paths).
Mesh topology
A mesh topology is a network in which all devices are connected to each other. This creates a very high level of redundancy and reliability, but it also means that the cost of implementing and maintaining such a system can be quite high.
In addition, because all nodes are directly connected to each other (there’s no central device), there’s no way to restrict what information passes between them or block certain types of traffic from entering or leaving your network.
There are many different types of network topologies.
There are many different types of network topologies. The most common ones include:
- Star – A star topology is made up of one central device that acts as the hub and connects to all other devices on the network. For example, if you have an office with ten cubicles in it, each person could connect their computer directly to the main router via Ethernet cables or wireless connections. This makes it easy to share files between computers because all traffic travels through one point (the router). However, this also means that if something goes wrong with your main router then none of your other devices will be able to communicate with each other until it’s fixed!
- Bus – A bus topology uses a single cable running along its length which connects every node together in parallel fashion; each node receives signals from both ends of this cable at once so there must be some way for them not interfere with each other (for example by using some form encryption). This type has been replaced by Ring Topologies where each node sends data packets only after receiving permission from others downstream before sending anything upstream again; this ensures no collisions occur between two adjacent nodes transmitting simultaneously towards opposite ends within same groupings set-ups like buses do not offer such protection mechanisms against interference issues caused by multiple transmissions happening simultaneously across same physical media channels leading them towards being unreliable due to having too much interference problems occurring over time due
A network topology is the physical arrangement of a network. It describes how devices are connected to each other, and which devices have connections to other networks.
