Network Topologies

Network topology is the layout pattern of interconnections of the various elements of

a computer or biological network. Network topologies may be physical or logical. Physical
topology refers to the physical design of a network including the devices, location and cable
installation. Logical topology refers to how data is actually transferred in a network as opposed
to its physical design. In general physical topology relates to a core network whereas logical
topology relates to basic network. Topology can be understood as the shape or structure of a
network. This shape does not necessarily correspond to the actual physical design of the devices
on the computer network.

These are the common network topologies:-

1. Bus Topology
2. Star Topology
3. Ring Topology
4. Mesh Topology
5. Tree Topology
 1. Bus Topology

A bus network topology is a network architecture in which a set of clients are

connected via a shared communications line, called a bus. There are several common instances
of the bus architecture, including one in the motherboard of most computers, and those in some
versions of Ethernet networks.

Switch

Client / server computers

2. Mesh Topology

Mesh Network is a network where all the nodes are connected to each
other and is a complete network. In a Mesh Network every node is connected to other nodes on
the network through hops. Some are connected through single hops and some may be connected
with more than one hope.
While the data is traveling on the Mesh Network it is automatically
configured to reach the destination by taking the shortest route which means the least number of
hops. Data travels by hopping from one node to another and then reaches the destination node in
a Mesh Topology Network.
 3. Ring Topology

A system of local area networking in which each node or station is

connected to two others, ultimately forming a loop. Data are passed in one direction only, being
received by each node and then transferred to the next node. Access is achieved either by means
of a token, passed from one node to the other, or by polling, a kind of inquiry made by a master
station.

Client / server computers

 4. Tree Topology

Among all the Network Topologies we can derive that the Tree Topology is a
combination of the bus and the Star Topology. The tree like structure allows you to have many
servers on the network and you can branch out the network in many ways. This is particularly
helpful for colleges, universities and schools so that each of the branches can identify the
relevant systems in their own network and yet connect to the big network in some way.

Client computers

Server
computer
 5. Star Topology

Star networks are one of the most common computer network topologies.
In its simplest form, a star network consists of one central switch, hub or computer, which acts as
a conduit to transmit messages. Thus, the hub and leaf nodes, and the transmission lines between
them, form a graph with the topology of a star. If the central node is passive, the originating node
must be able to tolerate the reception of an echo of its own transmission, delayed by the two-way
transmission time plus any delay generated in the central node.

The star topology reduces the chance of network failure by connecting all
of the systems to a central node. When applied to a bus-based network, this central hub
rebroadcasts all transmissions received from any peripheral node to all peripheral nodes on the
network, sometimes including the originating node.

Switch