Network topology refers to how a computer network is organized, with physical and logical topologies. Physical topology types include bus, ring, star, and mesh, each with advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a topology, consider budget, network layout, and maintenance requirements. For home networks, choose a simple and easy-to-maintain topology, while for enterprises, choose a reliable and fault-tolerant topology to avoid downtime.
Network topology refers to how the computer network is organized. The network can have a physical or logical topology. The physical topology describes the arrangement of computers and the location of workstations. Logical network topology describes how information flows through the network.
Choosing the physical topology is important because if it is not chosen correctly, the network may not function properly. There are several terms that describe the type of physical topology that a network can have. The most common topologies are bus, ring, star and mesh.
In a bus topology, all computers are connected to a single cable using terminators. Terminators work to absorb energy from signals in the network. The bus topology is easy to install, but it’s not reliable because a single default can bring down the network.
In a ring topology, each computer is connected directly to two other computers on the network. As with a bus topology, a single failure can disrupt a ring network. However, this type of network has advantages and does not require a network server.
In a star topology, each computer is connected via its own separate cable. This configuration is more reliable than a bus topology because its design makes it fault-tolerant and error-prone. Network information is transmitted from one system to another and data flows in only one direction. The topology is expensive to maintain and is unreliable because removing one computer can bring down the entire network.
In a mesh topology, there is a path from one computer to another computer on the network. Mesh topology is usually used in internet structure. Mesh topology can be complicated to build because it has multiple connections between locations. For every computer you have you will need at least one and a half connections for each one. This contributes to the expensive structure.
When choosing a network topology, understand that each has its advantages and disadvantages. Research each one and see which one fits your budget and which one fits your network layout. Also consider the amount of maintenance required in each topology.
When setting up a home network, consider a simple and easy to maintain network topology. You will also need an inexpensive topology to set up. When choosing a topology for an enterprise, consider a reliable and fault-tolerant topology. Your customers will need a network that is free from downtime; therefore, make sure your topology can withstand outages.
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