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Networks

Bus, star and ring topologies

  • 3 things to know
  • A2 Unit 1

Overview

Layout of a bus topology, layout of a star topology and main weakness of a star topology.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Why does the performance of a bus network fall as traffic increases?

Evaluation

Give two advantages of a bus topology.

Key term

Explain the effect of a break in the backbone of a bus network.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Describe the layout of a bus topology.

    Model answer

    A bus topology connects every device to one shared backbone cable, with each machine tapping into the same line rather than having a link of its own.

  2. 2

    Why does a bus network need a terminator at each end?

    Model answer

    A terminator absorbs the signal when it reaches the end of the backbone, preventing the signal from reflecting back along the cable and corrupting later transmissions.

  3. 3

    Give two advantages of a bus topology.

    Model answer

    A bus topology uses the least cable of the three layouts, and a new machine can be attached anywhere along the backbone without rewiring the rest of the network.

  4. 4

    Explain the effect of a break in the backbone of a bus network.

    Model answer

    A break in the backbone leaves both halves unterminated and separates the network in two, so communication across the break stops and in practice the whole network fails.

  5. 5

    Why does the performance of a bus network fall as traffic increases?

    Model answer

    Every machine on a bus network shares the one cable, so as more stations try to transmit the chance of two transmitting at once rises, and the repeated collisions and retries waste transmission time.

  6. 6

    Describe the layout of a star topology.

    Model answer

    A star topology gives every device its own cable running back to a central switch or hub, so all traffic passes through that central point.

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