Network topology types (Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, Hybrid, Logical,
Physical) | TechTerms
TechTerms
Network topology refers to how computers are connected in a
computer network. Logical topology determines how data is
transmitted between computers within a network.
The most common type of computer network used to connect
physically distributed computers is the local area network (LAN),
which has four main topologies: star, bus, ring, and mesh.
The bus topology is not commonly used in modern computer
networks. In the star topology, computers connect to a central
device such as a switch or hub using point-to-point
communication links. To transmit data from one computer to
another, it is first routed to the central device. Every computer on
the network has a unique destination MAC address, so only the
target computer accepts the data.
A hub increases unnecessary data traffic in the network by
broadcasting received data. A switch, on the other hand, stores
the MAC addresses of the devices connected to its ports.
In a ring topology, each computer connects to two neighboring
computers to form a ring. Data transmitted by one computer
moves from one computer to another in a circular fashion until it
reaches its final destination. The ring topology is less expensive
than the mesh topology, in which data moves in only one
direction.
The number of computers that can be connected in the network
is limited by the number of ports in the central device.
Physical) | TechTerms
TechTerms
Network topology refers to how computers are connected in a
computer network. Logical topology determines how data is
transmitted between computers within a network.
The most common type of computer network used to connect
physically distributed computers is the local area network (LAN),
which has four main topologies: star, bus, ring, and mesh.
The bus topology is not commonly used in modern computer
networks. In the star topology, computers connect to a central
device such as a switch or hub using point-to-point
communication links. To transmit data from one computer to
another, it is first routed to the central device. Every computer on
the network has a unique destination MAC address, so only the
target computer accepts the data.
A hub increases unnecessary data traffic in the network by
broadcasting received data. A switch, on the other hand, stores
the MAC addresses of the devices connected to its ports.
In a ring topology, each computer connects to two neighboring
computers to form a ring. Data transmitted by one computer
moves from one computer to another in a circular fashion until it
reaches its final destination. The ring topology is less expensive
than the mesh topology, in which data moves in only one
direction.
The number of computers that can be connected in the network
is limited by the number of ports in the central device.
