Network Topologies

Network Topologies

Earl L Sombrero

IT 205 - Management of Information Systems

Axia College of the University of Phoenix

Net work topology is a specific physical arrangement of the elements of a network. If you have two networks with the same topology it means that the connection configuration is the same, does not matter if their physical interconnections, distances between nodes, their transmission rates, and or signal types all differ. Basically a network topology is a layout of networks that are indirectly connected to a main server in separate workstations. There are three general topologies which are referred to as bus, star, and ring. The topologies bus, star, and ring received its name because describes its geometric configuration. The connection between the individual workstations and the central server are all transmitted via the central computer or the server only, which all work with private, public, or international networks.

A bus network is set up with the connections of computers by a cable. The cable is called the bus and must be terminated at both ends so that data can flow easily between machines. Every work station in the entire network is connected to the bus, and within this network each work station is connected to each other indirectly, via the central server. The bus topology has advantages, one being that it requires less cable than the star topology and it is easy to connect the computer to the bus. There are four main disadvantages to the bus topology which are, the entire network can become not functional if there is a break in the main cable, terminators are required to make it run efficiently, flaws are difficult to identify and not effective as a single solution in a large building.

A ring topology is a network that is composed of two branches with other branches connected to it to form the shape of a ring, thus giving it its name. Information in a ring network is transmitted between each computer in a circular motion in one direction. If one branch or computer defaults the whole ring becomes not functional. The ring network is more of a problem than the star topology, because all it takes for the ring to fail is one computer going down. The main advantage of this topology is the number of