Topologies

Essay by mixermcUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, March 2008

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The topologies discussed will include: Mesh, Bus, Ring, and Star. Additionally, the discussion will also include information on the differences of Ethernet, Token Ring, FIDDI, and wireless networks. Within the discussion of the topologies will be the advantages and disadvantages of each type discussed.

The first topic I will be discussing is the differences between different network topologies. First is how the networks are connected and I will start with the Mesh network topology. This topology is different from the Bus, Ring, and Star because in a Mesh network all the individual nodes or devices are connected to one another directly. On the other hand, a Bus topology uses a straight line connection between devices. Next is the Ring topology and uses a "circle" connection to connect devise to one another until the first device is reached again. The last type is the Star topology. The Star topology connects devices through the use of a central point or hub.

Now that the physical differences have been identified, I will move on to the advantages and disadvantages of each type of network topology. In the area of advantages with reliability, the dominate topology would be the Mesh network followed by the Star, Ring, then Bus. The reason being is due to the reliability of the listed networks. Reliability of service comes from how the information or data is transferred between devices. With that said, the more the connections between the devices the more reliable the transmissions will be on the network. Therefore, the Mesh network topology comes out on top in regards to advantages in reliability.

The next difference, in terms of advantages and disadvantages, is maintenance and cost. When dealing with cost and maintenance issues then the list is opposite that of the reliability list. What this means is that...