Network Toplogies and Their Advantages and Disadvantages

Network Toplogies and Their Advantages and Disadvantages

Network can be configured in different ways. The physical layout arrangement of connected devices called topology.
There are several types of topology
Bus topology

It is the simplest type of network that sports a small number of computers.In this topology all computer are connected to a common community this medium is called central wire are bus. The Terminators are used at the end of a bus to absorb signals.

Advantage/Disadvantages 
Advantages 

• Simple and easy to use 
• It requires small length of cable to connect computers. 
• It is less expensive. 
• It is easy to extend up bus. 
• It allows more computers to join the network. 
• If one node fails it does not affect the rest of the network. 

Disadvantages 

• It is difficult to troubleshoot. 
• Italy supports small number of computers. 
• If number of computers increases network speed will slow down.

Star topology 

All computers in this topology are connected with the central device called hub. This one is mostly used in client server network. The sending computer sends the data to the the central device. Each computer in Star Network communicate with a central device.

Advantages 

• Easy to maintain and modify the network. 
• Adding and removing computer can be done without disturbing the network. 
• Finding the faults become very simple. 
• Single computer failure does not bring down the whole network. 
• It is more flexible among the remaining topology. 

Disadvantages 

• The entire network breakdown if the central hub fails. 
• It requires a large length of cable to connect computers. 
• It is more expensive.

Ring topology 

In this topology each computer is connected to the next computer with the last one connected to the first one. In this way a ring is formed.

Every computer is connected to the next computer in a ring. Computer receive the message from the previous computer and transmits it to the next computer. flow in One Direction. the messages past around the Rings until it reaches the correct destination computer.

Advantages 

• It is less expensive than star topology. 
• Every computer at equal access to the network. 

Disadvantages 

• The failure of one computer in the wing can break down the whole network. 
• It is difficult to troubleshoot. 
• Adding or removing computers effects of whole network. 

Mesh topology 

In this topology every device in the network is physically connected to every other device in the network. A message can be sent on different possible paths from source to destination. Mesh topology provides improve performance and reliability. mesh networks are not used much in local area network that is mostly used in wide area networks

Advantages 

• The use of dedicated link guarantees that is connection can carry its own data loads eliminate the traffic problem. 
• If one link becomes you on unusable it does not harm the entire system. 
• It is easy to troubleshoot. 

Disadvantages 

• Full mesh network can be very expensive. 
• It is difficult to install Angry computer. 

Tree topology 

It is the combination of bus and star topologies. It consists of different groups of computers attached in Star topology. The groups are then connected to a bus backbone cable. It is used for expansion of an existing network.

Advantages 

• It provides point to point wiring for individual segments. 
• It is supported by several hardware and software vendors. 

Disadvantages 

• Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cable being used. 
• If the backbone line breaks the entire segment goes down. 
• It is more difficult to configure and wires than others apologies.