Topologies

Topologies

1. Bus

   • All devices are connected to the network are connected to a common shared cable called the backbone
     • Advantages
       • Cost effective due to little amount of cabling
       • Simple cable runs make it easy to install
       • Easy to add extra devices to the network
     • Disadvantages
       • if there are more than 12 devices on the network then the performance degrades
       • If there is a break in the backbone cable then the network can not be used

2. Ring

   • All computers are arranged in a circle
   • Data sent from a computer that is being sent will travel the whole ring until it reaches the right computer
   • Advantages
     • It is not reliant on a central computer
     • All computers have the same access on the network
   • Disadvantages
     • if the connection breaks then the whole network fails
     • faults are harder to locate

3. Star

   • Uses a central connection point such as a hub to connect all the devices together
   • AAdvantages
     • if one of the cable fails then the network can still be sed by other devices
     • Extra computers can be added without degrading performance
   • Disadvantages
     • Higher cost due to the amount of cabling
     • if the central hub goes down then the whole network fails

4. Mesh

   • A Mesh topology is an either fully or partial topology, a full mesh topology is where all the computers have a connection to all other computers.
     • Advantages
       • Can handle high amounts of traffic because multiple devices can transmit data at the simultanously
       • A failure in a single device does not cause a break in the network
       • Adding new devices does not disrupt the data transmission between the current devices
     • Disadvantages
       • The cost is higher than other topologies making it a less popular option
       • Building and maintaining the toplology is difficult and time consuming
       • The chance of redundant connections is high, which adds to high costs and potential for reduced efficiency
   • in a partially connected mesh topology to only some of the other computers on the network

Images and files in the map