Network Topology Comparison

Topology Star Bus

Each computer connects to a central connection device.

Information Transfer
All information passes through the central network connection.

Setup
Each computer must be close to the central device. 100 meters maximum cable length. Up to 24 computers per network. *onnect the cable from one computer to the next and so on to the end. A terminator is placed at each end of the network. *omputers are located close to each other. (etup is eas . +here is no connector. +he ring has no beginning and no end.

Expansion
Add a new computer b plugging in a new cable from the computer to the connection device.

Troubleshooting
!hen one computer goes down" the rest of the network is unaffected. #f the connection device goes down" then the network is down. #f one computer malfunctions" the entire network goes down.

Cost
$ore expensive of the simple topologies" it re%uires costl connection device. Usuall cheaper than a h brid network. A cheaper network since there is usuall one continuous copper cable.

Cabling Concerns
Uses twisted pair cable. &e%uires large amounts of cable. 'o more than 100 meters from the computer to the connection device. (ingle continuous cable connects the devices. +erminator is re%uired at each end of the cable. Uses coaxial or twisted pair cabling. &e%uires more cabling than other topologies. Uses twisted pair.

Bus
(ingle cable connects ever thing.

Ring
(ingle cable configured in a ring.

)ne computer at a time sends information. #nformation goes along the cable and the computer accesses the information off the cable. #nformation goes in one direction around the ring and passes along the ring until it reaches the correct computer.

+o add a computer" ou must shut down the network and disconnect the cable from the existing computers.

*able between the computers must be broken to add a new computer" so the network is down until the new device is back online.

#f there,s a break in the cable or an error in the network" information continues to transfer through the rest of the ring until reaching the point of the break. +his makes troubleshooting eas . +roubleshooting is most difficult in this topolog because of the variet of technologies.

)ne of the more expensive topologies due to high cable costs.

Hybrid Mesh
*ombines two or more different structures.

)ften used across long distances. #nformation transfer can happen in different wa s" depending on the other topologies.

)ften created when expanding an existing network. *an use a variet of connection devices.

*onnection devices make combining different networks and different topologies eas .

Expensive" large" and usuall complicated.

*abling depends on the t pes of networks. *an use twisted pair and coaxial cable. Also incorporates fiber optic cabling over long distances.