Computer Science, asked by Jd88, 1 year ago

Explain different types of topology

Answers

Answered by kvnmurty
2
Topology means the way the various peripherals / devices / elements/ nodes/ computers/ processors in a network are connected.  The connection can be logical connection (at application level) or at the physical level in terms of cables or electronic signals (wireless/wired).  The topology determines the way messages are sent from source to destination and replies and acknowledgments are received.

   Different types of topology have different costs, convenience, reliability, speed of transmission etc.

1. Bus topology means that all the nodes are connected on a single linear bus.  All the nodes receive the package/message.  There is contention here to send messages or receive.  There will be congestion on the bus.  The speed of the bus is shared by the nodes.  There is less cabling or hardware required for this.  If the bus fails then the network is down.

2.  Ring topology:  The nodes are connected in a closed  ring structure. A packet/message/token is passed from node to node one by one, until it is passed to the destination as in the message/packet.  To which ever computer that token is addressed to, it will accept that.  Otherwise, it will regenerate the packet and send to the next one in the circular ring.  This topology has the largest span over the others.
      If one node fails, then the network is broken.  But still there is another way of communication.

3.  Star topology:
    The nodes are connected in a star network.  Multiple nodes are connected to one central node.  Message/packet routing to nodes takes place via the central node.  This is the most commonly used networking topology.  The central nodes are called switches or hubs depending on their capabilities.  If one node is down, the network is still on.  But if if central node fails, then all the nodes attached to that will suffer.

4.  Mesh topology
     The nodes are connected as a mesh with multiple connections from and to each node from other nodes.  Different multiple routes are available to reach a computer/processor.  All nodes can be connected to all others too.  So reliability is more.  But this is costlier.   The main back bone of a network is connected usually in a full mesh.  Then additional peripherals/other processors are connected partial mesh topology.

6.  Point to Point connection:
        For an application where communication availability must be 100% available and without other interruptions, P2P is used.  This is costly but is justified for the facility.

7.  Tree topology
         The nodes are connected in a tree like hierarchical structure.  This is a combination of star and bus topologies.  This is used for very large networks.  Very large companies use this.

8.   Mixed topology
         A convenient mixture of the above, to suit the application, cost, convenience, speed requirements.

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