2. Network Topology:
• A network topology is the arrangement of a network, including its
nodes and connecting lines.
3. Types of topologies
• Mesh Topology
• Star Topology
• Bus Topology
• Ring Topology
• Tree Topology
4. Mesh Topology
Mesh is the least-used network topology and the most expensive to
implement. In a mesh environment, a cable runs from every computer to
every other computer.
5. Mesh Topology:
Advantages:
1. Data can never fail to be delivered. A failure of one device doesn’t effect the
others.
2. modification in topology can be done without disrupting other nodes.
Disadvantages:
1. Costly than other topologies because wide amount of cable is used.
2. Set-up and maintenance is difficult.
6. Star Topology:
A star topology is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all
nodes are individually connected to a central connection point.
7. Star Topology:
Advantages:
1. A star takes more cable than e.g. a bus, but the benefit is that if a cable fails,
only one node will be brought down.
2. New computers can be added easily without having to take the network offline.
Disadvantages:
1. If the central node goes down then the entire network will go down.
2. Expensive- more cable is required as every computer is individually connected
to the central node.
8. Bus Topology:
Bus topology is a specific kind of network topology in which all of the
various devices in the network are connected to a single cable or line.
9. Bus Topology:
Advantages:
1. Less expensive- all computers and devices are connected with a single cable.
2. Minimal use of the physical resources
Disadvantages:
1. It can be difficult to identify the problems if the whole network goes down.
2. If a main cable is damaged, the network fails.
10. Ring Topology:
A ring topology is a network configuration in which device connections
create a circular data path. Each networked device is connected to two
others, like points on a circle. Together, devices in a ring topology are
referred to as a ring network.
11. Ring Topology:
Advantages:
1. All data flows in one direction, reducing the chance of packet collisions.
2. Additional workstations can be added without impacting performance of the
network.
Disadvantages:
1. In a ring network, packets of data travel from one device to the next until they
reach their destination.
2. The major disadvantage of a ring topology is that if any individual connection in
the ring is broken, the entire network is affected.
12. Tree Topology:
A tree network, or star-bus network, is a hybrid network topology in
which star networks are interconnected via bus networks.
13. Tree Topology:
Advantages:
1. CENTRALISED MONITORING- It makes users to control and manage a larger
network easily and also it is easy to reconfigure the tree topology.
2. If one segment is damaged, other segments are not affected.
Disadvantages:
1. Huge cabling is needed
2. Because of its basic structure, tree topology, relies heavily on the main bus
cable, if it breaks whole network is crippled.
