WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF NETWORK TOPOLOGY?

 

Network topology is the schematic description of the arrangement of the physical and logical elements of a communication network. 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.

There are five types of topology in computer networks:

1.Mesh topology- A network setup where each computer and network device is interconnected with one another. This topology setup allows for most transmissions to be distributed even if one of the connections goes down. It is a topology commonly used for wireless networks.

Advantages of Mesh topology:

• Manages high amounts of traffic, because multiple devices can transmit data simultaneously.
• A failure of one device does not cause a break in the network or transmission of data.
• Adding additional devices does not disrupt data transmission between other devices.  

Disadvantages of Mesh topology:

• Each node needs to both send messages as well as act as a router, which causes the complexity of each node to go up pretty significantly. 
• This complicates your network planning, because you now have to deploy a piece of equipment just to get your messages properly routed in a reasonable amount of time.
• Because each node in a mesh has to act as an endpoint and a router, it has to draw more power to operate. Thus, if you have battery-powered, low-power nodes, a mesh may be difficult to deploy without a lot of network planning.

2. Star topology- A topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all nodes are individually connected to a central connection point, like a hub or a switch. A star takes more cable than e.g. a bus, but the benefit is that if a cable fails, only one node will be brought down.

Advantages of Star topology:

• Easy to install and wire.
• No disruptions to the network when connecting or removing devices.
• Requires more cable length than a linear bus topology.
• If the connecting network device (network switch) fails, nodes attached are disabled and cannot participate in computer network communication.

Disadvantages of Star topology:

• it is expensive to install as this type of network uses the most cable (network cable is expensive)
• extra hardware is required (hubs or switches) which adds to cost.
• if a hub or switch fails, all the devices connected to it will have no network connection.

3.Bus topology- A topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all the nodes are connected to a single cable. The cable to which the nodes connect is called a "backbone". If the backbone is broken, the entire segment fails.

Advantages of Bus topology:

• Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear bus.
• Requires less cable length than a star topology.
• Entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
• Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
• Not meant to be used as a stand-alone solution.

Disadvantages of Bus topology:

• It can be difficult to identify the problems if the whole network goes down.
• It can be hard to troubleshoot individual device issues.
• Bus topology is not great for large networks.
• Terminators are required for both ends of the main cable.
• Additional devices slow the network down.

4.Ring topology- A network configuration where device connections create a circular data path. Each networked device is connected to two others, like points on a circle. Together, devices in a ring topology are referred to as a ring network.

Advantages of Ring topology

• All data flows in one direction, reducing the chance of packet collisions.
• A network server is not needed to control network connectivity between each workstation.
• Data can transfer between workstations at high speeds.

Disadvantages of Ring topology :

• Due to the Uni-directional Ring, a data packet (token) must have to pass through all the nodes.
• If one workstation shuts down, it affects whole network or if a node goes down entire network goes down.
• It is slower in performance as compared to the bus topology.
• It is Expensive.

5.Hybrid topology- A type of network topology that uses two or more differing network topologies. These topologies can include a mix of bus topology, mesh topology, ring topology, star topology, and tree topology.

Advantages of Hybrid Topology :

• This type of topology combines the benefits of different types of topologies in one topology.
• Can be modified as per requirement.
• It is extremely flexible.
• It is very reliable.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology :

• It is a type of network expensive.
• Design of a hybrid network is very complex.
• There is change hardware in order to connect topology with another topology.
• Usually hybrid architectures are usually larger in scales so they requires a lot of cables in installation process.