Bus, star and mesh topologies

Overview

Bus, star and mesh topologies with their advantages and disadvantages, collisions on a bus, full and partial mesh, and choosing a topology for an office.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a network topology?

   Model answer

   A topology is the way the devices in a network are arranged and connected. Bus, star and mesh are three common topologies.

2. 2

   What is a bus topology?

   Model answer

   A bus topology connects every device to a single shared cable called the backbone. A terminator at each end stops signals reflecting back along the cable.

3. 3

   What are the advantages of a bus topology?

   Model answer

   A bus network needs less cable than other topologies, so it is cheap to install. A new device is simple to add to a small bus network.

4. 4

   What are the disadvantages of a bus topology?

   Model answer

   A break in the backbone cable stops the whole network. Collisions increase as more devices share the cable, which slows the network.

5. 5

   Why do collisions happen on a bus network?

   Model answer

   All the devices share one cable, so two devices may transmit at the same moment. The signals interfere and both must be sent again.

6. 6

   What is a star topology?

   Model answer

   A star topology connects every device by its own cable to a central switch. All data passes through the central switch.

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