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Topologies
- (February - 2009)
A network
topology is the geometric arrangement of nodes and cable links
in a LAN, and is used in two general configurations: bus and
star. These two topologies define how nodes are connected to one
another. A node is an active device connected to the network,
such as a computer or a printer. A node can also be a piece of
networking equipment such as a hub, switch or a router.
A bus
topology consists of nodes linked together in a series with each
node connected to a long cable or bus. Many nodes can tap into
the bus and begin communication with all other nodes on that
cable segment. A break anywhere in the cable will usually cause
the entire segment to be inoperable until the break is repaired.
Examples of bus topology include 10BASE2 and 10BASE5.
10BASE-T
Ethernet and Fast Ethernet use a star topology, in which access
is controlled by a central computer. Generally a computer is
located at one end of the segment, and the other end is
terminated in central location with a hub. Because UTP is often
run in conjunction with telephone cabling, this central location
can be a telephone closet or other area where it is convenient
to connect the UTP segment to a backbone.
The primary advantage of this type of network is reliability,
for if one of these 'point-to-point' segments has a break, it
will only affect the two nodes on that link. Other computer
users on the network continue to operate as if that segment were
nonexistent.
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