Computer Network Topology

Computer Network Topology :- Topology is a physical structure of a Computer Network.

i)                  Bus Topology

ii)               Star Topology

iii)            Ring Topology

iv)            Mesh Topology

v)               Tree Topology

1) Bus Topology :- In Bus Topology all computers are connected by a single length of cable with a terminator at each end. The central cable is known as Backbone of the network. The Bus Topology is the simplest and most widely used  LAN design.

Advantage

i)                  Easy to connect all devices.

ii)               Require less cable and easy to extend.

iii)            Less expensive to star and ring topology.

Disadvantage

i)                  Entire Network get affected if break the cable (Backbone)

ii)               Difficult to detect the faulty device.

2) Star Topology :- Star Topology can connect devices to a central device. The central device may have Hub, Switch etc. Devices are attached to the device by cables. Like Copper Cables, Fiber Optic Cables etc.

Advantage

i)                  Easy to install and configure.

ii)               Easy to detect faulty devices.

iii)            Easy to expend.

iv)            Connecting or Removing device does not affect the entire network.

Disadvantage

i)                  Requires more cable length then Bus Topology.

ii)               If the central device fails, the whole network fails to operate.

3) Ring Topology :- Ring Topology all hosts are setup in a circular form in which data travels around the ring in one direction with each device on the ring acting as a repeater. Ring networks typically use a token-passing protocol.

Advantage

i)                  Easier to manage as compared ti Bus Topology.

ii)               Easy handle large volume of traffic.

iii)            Good communication over a long distance. 

Disadvantage

i)                  More cables requires as compared to Bus topology.

ii)               One fault device affect the entire network.

4) Mesh Topology :- In this type of network setup, each of the computers and network devices are interconnected with one another. It has many number of cable that can be identify by :-

Number of cable = n(n-1)/2

N= number of node for devices connected in the network.

Advantage

i)                  Entire Network not affected by faulty device.

ii)               Easy to detect faulty device.

Disadvantage

i)                  More cables are required then other topology.

ii)               Very expensive

iii)            Difficult to reconfigure.

5) Tree Topology :- Tree topology is the combination of Bus and star topology. In this topology group of star network are connected to linear Bus backbone. Tree topology enables the user to expand and configure the existing networking as per the requirement.

Advantage

i)                  Easy to detect a faulty device.

ii)               Easy to expand a Network.

Disadvantage

i)                  Difficult to configure as compared to other topology.

ii)               Fault in backbone wire then affect the entire network.

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