The configuration, or topology, of a network is key to determining its performance. Network topology is the way a network is arranged, including the physical or logical description of how links and nodes are set up to relate to each other.
The term typology refers to the way a network is laid out. Either physically or logically. Two or more devices are connected to each other with a link. Two or more links from a typology.
- Mesh topology
- Star topology
- Tree topology
- Bus topology
- Ring topology
1. Mesh Topology
In mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point to point link to every other device. The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only between the two devices it connects. A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1) /2 physical channels to link n devices. To accommodate that many links, every device on the network has (n-1) input - output ports.
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| Mesh Topology |
A mesh topology offers several advantage over other network topologies.
- No traffic problem
- Robust
- Privacy and security
- Easy Troubleshooting
The main disadvantages of a mesh topology is related to the amount of cabling and the number of input output required. The installation and reconfiguring of the mesh topology is different because each node is to be connected to the other node. Also the number of input output ports required is high.
2. Star Topology
In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point to point link only to a central controller usually called a hub. The devices are not directly connected to each other. Unlike a mesh topology, a star topology does not allow direct traffic transfer between the two nodes.
The controller acts an exchange. If one device wants to send data to another, it sends it to hub, which then forwards it to the intended recipient.
A star topology is less expensive than the mesh topology. It require only one link and one input output part to connect to each other. This makes it easy to install and reconfigure, star topology is also robust. A link if it becomes unusable, it affects only that link and do not disturb the entire network fault finding and isolation is also easy.
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| Star topology |
3. Tree Topology
A tree topology is a variation of a star as in a star, nodes in a tree are linked to a central hub that controls the traffic of the network. However not energy device plugs directly in to the central hub. The majority of devices connect to a secondary hub that in turn is connected to the central hub.
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| Tree Topology |
The central hub is the tree is an active hub which contain repeaters. Repeaters is a hardware device that regenerates the received bit pattern before sending them to other nodes. This help in strengthing the transmission and also increases the distance a single can travel. The secondary hub may be active or passive hubs.passive hub simply provides the physical path between the connected device.
4. Bus Topology
In bus topology a number of nodes to a single long cable. Which acts as a backbone to link all the devices/nodes in a network.
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| Bus Topology |
A single from the source is broadcasted and it travels to the workstation connected to the bus.Although the massage is broadcast but only the intended recipient, whose MAC address or IP address matches ,accepts it.If MAC/IP address of machine doesn't match the intended address machine discards the signal. A terminator is added at ends of the central cable to prevent bouncing of signals.
5. Ring Topology
In the ring topology, the network consists of a set of repeater joined as point-to-point links in a close loop as shown in the fig. The repeater is comparatively simple device capable of receiving them, bit -by -bit on the other link as fast as they can receive them with no buffering at the repeater. The link are unidirectional. Thus the data can circulate around the link in One Direction only sending and receiving of data takes place by the help of token.
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| Ring Topology |
Ring topologies are cost-effective and inexpensive to install, and the intricate point-to-point connectivity of the nodes makes it relatively easy to identify issues or misconfigurations on the network.
6. Hybrid Topology
A combination of two or more topology is known as hybrid topology. For example a combination of star and mesh topology is known as hybrid topology. We can choose the topology based on the requirement for example, scalability is our concern then we can use star topology instead of bus technology.
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| Hybrid Topology |
It is also scalable as we can further connect other computer networks with the existing networks with different topologies, but the design is complex so maintenance is high thus expensive.
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