Network Topology

Topology
. defines the structure of the network of
how all the components are interconnected to each
other. There are two types of topology: physical
and logical topology.

Types of Network Topology

 Types of Network Topology Physical topology is the geometric

representation of all the nodes in a network. There are six types of
network topology which are Bus Topology, Ring Topology, Tree
Topology, Star Topology, Mesh Topology, and Hybrid Topology.
 1) Bus Topology
•The bus topology is designed in such a way that all the stations are connected through a single cable
known as a backbone cable.
•Each node is either connected to the backbone cable by drop cable or directly connected to
the backbone cable.
•When a node wants to send a message over the network, it puts a message over the network. All the
stations available in the network will receive the message whether it has been addressed or not.
 Advantages of Bus topology:

•Low-cost cable: In bus topology, nodes are directly connected to the cable without passing through a hub.
Therefore, the initial cost of installation is low.

•Moderate data speeds: Coaxial or twisted pair cables are mainly used in bus-based networks that support upto
10 Mbps.

•Limited failure: A failure in one node will not have any effect on other nodes.

•Familiar technology: Bus topology is a familiar technology the installation and troubleshooting techniques are well
known, and hardware components are easily available.
Disadvantages of Bus topology:

•Extensive cabling: A bus topology is quite simpler, but still it requires a lot of
cabling.
•Difficult troubleshooting: It requires specialized test equipment to determine the cable faults. If
any fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication for all the nodes.

•Signal interference: If two nodes send the messages simultaneously, then the signals of both the
nodes collide with each other.
 2) Ring Topology
•Ring topology is like a bus topology.
•The node that receives the message from the previous computer will retransmit to the next node.
•The data flows in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional.
•The data flows in a single loop continuously known as an endless loop.
•It has no terminated ends, i.e., each node is connected to other node and having no termination
point.
•The data in a ring topology flow in a clockwise direction.
The most common access method of the ring topology is token
•passing.
Token passing: It is a network access method in which token is passed from one node to another
node.
•Token: It is a frame that circulates around the network.
 Working of Token passing
•A token moves around the network, and it is passed from computer to computer until it reaches the
destination.
•The sender modifies the token by putting the address along with the data.
•The data is passed from one device to another device until the destination address matches. Once the token
received by the destination device, then it sends the acknowledgment to the sender.
•In a ring topology, a token is used as a carrier.
 Advantages of Ring
topology:
•Cost: Twisted pair cabling is inexpensive and easily available. Therefore, the installation cost is very low.

•Reliable: It is a more reliable network because the communication system is not dependent on the single host
computer.

Disadvantages of Ring topology:

•Difficult troubleshooting: It requires specialized test equipment to determine the cable faults. If any
fault occurs in the cable, then it would disrupt the communication for all the node.

•Failure: The breakdown in one station leads to the failure of the overall network.

•Reconfiguration difficult: Adding new devices to the network would slow down the network.
 3) Star Topology

•Star topology is an arrangement of the network in which every node is connected to the central hub, switch or a
central computer.
•The central computer is known as a server, and the peripheral devices attached to the server are known as
client.
•Coaxial cable or RJ-45 cables are used to connect the computers.

•Hubs or Switches are mainly used as connection devices in a physical star topology.
 Advantages of Star topology

•Limited failure: As each station is connected to the central hub with its own cable, therefore failure in one
cable will not affect the entire network.
•Familiar technology: Star topology is a familiar technology as its tools are cost-effective.
•Easily expandable: It is easily expandable as new stations can be added to the open ports on the hub

•Cost effective: Star topology networks are cost-effective as it uses inexpensive coaxial
cable.
Disadvantages of Star
topology
•A Central point of failure: If the central hub or switch goes down, then all the connected nodes will not
be able to communicate with each other.
•Cable: Sometimes cable routing becomes difficult when a significant amount of routing is required.
 4) Tree topology
•Tree topology combines the characteristics of bus topology and star topology.

•A tree topology is a type of structure in which all the computers are connected with each other in
hierarchical fashion.
•The top-most node in tree topology is known as a root node, and all other nodes are the descendants of
the root node.
 Advantages of Tree topology

•Easily expandable: We can add the new device to the existing network. Therefore, we can say that tree
topology is easily expandable .

•Easily manageable: In tree topology, the whole network is divided into segments known as star networks
which can be easily managed and maintained.
•Error detection: Error detection and error correction are very easy in a tree topology.

•Limited failure: The breakdown in one station does not affect the entire network.

Disadvantages of Tree topology

•Difficult troubleshooting: If any fault occurs in the node, then it becomes difficult to troubleshoot the
problem.
•Failure: A tree topology mainly relies on main bus cable and failure in main bus cable will damage the
overall network.
•High cost: Devices required for broadband transmission are very costly.
 5) Mesh topology
•Mesh technology is an arrangement of the network in which computers are interconnected with each other
through various redundant connections.
•There are multiple paths from one computer to another computer.
•It does not contain the switch, hub or any central computer which acts as a central point of communication.
•The Internet is an example of the mesh topology.
•Mesh topology is mainly used for wireless networks.
Mesh topology can be formed by using the formula:

Number of cables =
(n*(n-1))/2;

Where n is the number of nodes that represents

the network.
Advantages of Mesh topology:

Reliable: The mesh topology networks are very reliable as if any link
breakdown will not affect the communication between connected
computers.
Fast Communication: Communication is very fast
between the nodes.
Easier Reconfiguration: Adding new devices would not
disrupt the communication between other devices.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

•Cost: A mesh topology contains a large number of connected devices such as a router and more
transmission media than other topologies.

•Efficiency: In this topology, redundant connections are high that reduces the efficiency of the
network.
•Management: Mesh topology networks are very large and very difficult to maintain and manage.
If the network is not monitored carefully, then the communication link failure goes undetected.
6) Hybrid Topology
 •The combination of various different topologies is known as Hybrid topology.

•A Hybrid topology is a connection between different links and nodes to transfer the data.

•When two or more different topologies are combined together is termed as Hybrid topology and if
similar topologies are connected with each other will not result in Hybrid topology. For example, if
there exist a ring topology in one branch of ICICI bank and bus topology in another branch of ICICI
bank, connecting these two topologies will result in Hybrid topology.
Advantages of Hybrid Topology

•Reliable: If a fault occurs in any part of the network will not affect the functioning of the rest of the networ

• Scalable: Size of the network can be easily expanded by adding new devices without affecting
the of the existing network. functionality
•Flexible: This topology is very flexible as it can be designed according to the requirements of
the organization.
•Effective: Hybrid topology is very effective as it can be designed in such a way that the strength of the
network is maximized and weakness of the network is minimized.
 Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

•Complex design: The major drawback of the Hybrid topology is the design of the Hybrid network. It is
very difficult to design the architecture of the Hybrid network.
•Costly Hub: The Hubs used in the Hybrid topology are very expensive as these hubs are different from
usual Hubs used in other topologie.

•Costly infrastructure: The infrastructure cost is very high as a hybrid network requires a lot of cabling,
network devices, et.