preview

Computer Network Topology Essay

Good Essays

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES

Computer network topology is an extension of basic topology. In this discipline we examine the configuration of computer system elements and their interconnections of network lattice. Physical network topology deals with the hardware components associated with the computer system including workstations, servers, remote terminals and the cabling associated with them. Logical network topology deals with representation of data flow between nodes which can be dynamically reconfigured once the selected network equipment such as router is available.

Figure: 1

Bus topology:
In this topology, a single cable is used to connect all the nodes/devices on the network. This cable is also called the network backbone. The …show more content…

When the traffic intensity between the nodes is large then this topology is preferable. In this topology, a certain proportion of nodes have multiple paths to another destination node. Each of the traditional network topologies (Bus, Ring, Star and tree network topologies) had only single path from message source to message destination. Since Mesh Network topology provides multiple paths from source to destination so that greatly reduces the probability of single point network failure. The advantage of mesh network over other networks is that source node determines the best suitable route from source to destination based on factors such as connectivity, speed and pending node activities. Mesh topology is not cost effective, this proves to be a major disadvantage for setting up the network. Another disadvantage of this type of network is the need of a routing algorithm by each node for path computation. When each node in the network is directly connected to every other node then it is called a full mesh. This type of network topology works best with small number of nodes in the network. When some nodes in the network are indirectly connected to other nodes in the network then it is called partial mesh. Figure 1 provides an example of both partial and full mesh

Get Access