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Computer Network Topology – Mesh, Star, Bus, Ring and Hybrid

By Chaitanya Singh | Filed Under: Computer Network

Geometric representation of how the computers are connected to each other is known as topology. There are five types of topology – Mesh, Star, Bus, Ring and Hybrid.

Types of Topology

There are five types of topology in computer networks:
Types of Topology
1. Mesh Topology
2. Star Topology
3. Bus Topology
4. Ring Topology
5. Hybrid Topology

Mesh Topology

Mesh Topology
In mesh topology each device is connected to every other device on the network through a dedicated point-to-point link. When we say dedicated it means that the link only carries data for the two connected devices only. Lets say we have n devices in the network then each device must be connected with (n-1) devices of the network. Number of links in a mesh topology of n devices would be n(n-1)/2.

Advantages of Mesh topology

1. No data traffic issues as there is a dedicated link between two devices which means the link is only available for those two devices.
2. Mesh topology is reliable and robust as failure of one link doesn’t affect other links and the communication between other devices on the network.
3. Mesh topology is secure because there is a point to point link thus unauthorized access is not possible.
4. Fault detection is easy.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

1. Amount of wires required to connected each system is tedious and headache.
2. Since each device needs to be connected with other devices, number of I/O ports required must be huge.
3. Scalability issues because a device cannot be connected with large number of devices with a dedicated point to point link.

Star Topology

Star Topology
In star topology each device in the network is connected to a central device called hub. Unlike Mesh topology, star topology doesn’t allow direct communication between devices, a device must have to communicate through hub. If one device wants to send data to other device, it has to first send the data to hub and then the hub transmit that data to the designated device.

Advantages of Star topology

1. Less expensive because each device only need one I/O port and needs to be connected with hub with one link.
2. Easier to install
3. Less amount of cables required because each device needs to be connected with the hub only.
4. Robust, if one link fails, other links will work just fine.
5. Easy fault detection because the link can be easily identified.

Disadvantages of Star topology

1. If hub goes down everything goes down, none of the devices can work without hub.
2. Hub requires more resources and regular maintenance because it is the central system of star topology.

Bus Topology

Bus Topology
In bus topology there is a main cable and all the devices are connected to this main cable through drop lines. There is a device called tap that connects the drop line to the main cable. Since all the data is transmitted over the main cable, there is a limit of drop lines and the distance a main cable can have.

Advantages of bus topology

1. Easy installation, each cable needs to be connected with backbone cable.
2. Less cables required than Mesh and star topology

Disadvantages of bus topology

1. Difficultly in fault detection.
2. Not scalable as there is a limit of how many nodes you can connect with backbone cable.

Ring Topology

Ring Topology
In ring topology each device is connected with the two devices on either side of it. There are two dedicated point to point links a device has with the devices on the either side of it. This structure forms a ring thus it is known as ring topology. If a device wants to send data to another device then it sends the data in one direction, each device in ring topology has a repeater, if the received data is intended for other device then repeater forwards this data until the intended device receives it.

Advantages of Ring Topology

1. Easy to install.
2. Managing is easier as to add or remove a device from the topology only two links are required to be changed.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1. A link failure can fail the entire network as the signal will not travel forward due to failure.
2. Data traffic issues, since all the data is circulating in a ring.

Hybrid topology

Hybrid topology
A combination of two or more topology is known as hybrid topology. For example a combination of star and mesh topology is known as hybrid topology.

Advantages of Hybrid topology

1. We can choose the topology based on the requirement for example, scalability is our concern then we can use star topology instead of bus technology.
2. Scalable as we can further connect other computer networks with the existing networks with different topologies.

Disadvantages of Hybrid topology

1. Fault detection is difficult.
2. Installation is difficult.
3. Design is complex so maintenance is high thus expensive.

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Comments

  1. jay-cobra says

    October 5, 2020 at 12:28 PM

    Ooh nice and well organized notes.

    Reply
  2. Cate says

    October 14, 2020 at 6:42 PM

    So star topology is used by a central device called hub
    Wow I liked how types of topology network how they are explained

    Reply
  3. Loveday Ndubuisi says

    October 16, 2020 at 9:37 AM

    Thanks a lot for your worthwhile resources…

    Reply
  4. Alex macheka says

    October 26, 2020 at 3:56 PM

    Tell me why we use topology on network

    Reply
    • Vibhishan kumar says

      November 13, 2020 at 3:39 AM

      I think you confused with defination of topology.
      topology is the way or process to connect the one device to other , if you want to share data from one device to another then you connect device through cable or wireless network.

      Reply
      • nadeem asghar says

        November 19, 2021 at 8:04 AM

        topology is just a shape of network according to we connect devices in entire network …

        Reply
    • Sylvester says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:27 PM

      To increase efficiency of transmitting data between computers

      Reply
  5. Arnabi Khastagir says

    October 29, 2020 at 6:54 AM

    It was extremely helpful as not many points were written in the course book which I redeemed and learnt from here and gained good marks in computer Unit test, Thank you beginnersbook.com.

    Reply
  6. FAITH says

    November 19, 2020 at 3:39 PM

    This was very helpful..i managed to understand and answer my IT assignment

    Reply
  7. dumie says

    January 2, 2021 at 1:39 PM

    Very helpful and easy to understand I managed to prepare for my IT exam

    Reply
  8. Tera baap says

    January 6, 2021 at 2:38 PM

    Very helpful for me and for my project

    Reply
  9. Aroosa Shahid says

    January 10, 2021 at 1:02 PM

    This is very helpful…i complete my computer assignment…well organized notes
    Thank you so much

    Reply
  10. ajith says

    January 11, 2021 at 5:14 PM

    here is the conclusion Star Topology is the best one .. am i right

    Reply
  11. King S.E.J👑 says

    March 10, 2021 at 7:51 PM

    The listing of their features, advantages and disadvantages really helped me through my study time. I love that!

    Reply
  12. Nakazibwe JOSEPHINE says

    March 23, 2021 at 3:56 AM

    What about tree topology?? I haven’t seen this type.

    Reply
    • Chaitanya Singh says

      June 12, 2021 at 5:46 AM

      Tree topology is a hybrid topology, it is basically a combination of bus topology and star topology. This topology is frequently used in corporate networks.

      Reply
  13. Mac seyram Amegashie says

    March 29, 2021 at 9:40 PM

    This is very helpful…i complete my computer assignment…well organized notes
    Thank you so much

    Reply
  14. Adam Siaka says

    April 9, 2021 at 7:36 PM

    Really helpful cos textbooks gives little but you details here and made easy to understand and improve in the journey of IT

    Reply
    • Audu rasheedat says

      September 22, 2021 at 5:00 PM

      Yes it helps me complete my assignment because textbooks give just little information

      Reply
  15. Aishwarya S says

    April 14, 2021 at 3:17 PM

    which type of topology is commonly used?

    Reply
    • Chaitanya Singh says

      June 12, 2021 at 5:43 AM

      Star topology is by far the most common network topology

      Reply
  16. Chepete says

    April 26, 2021 at 7:34 PM

    Wonderful presentation, constractive sort and brief for excellent understanding. I salute you.

    Reply
  17. Muzinocolo says

    May 4, 2021 at 11:30 PM

    It helped me very much, i managed to prepare for my quizzes and tests, now I’m ready. Thank you

    Reply
  18. Majesty Baribe says

    May 6, 2021 at 9:04 PM

    Wow, nice work done.
    You answered my questions on bus topology.

    Reply
  19. Tariq Azam says

    December 4, 2021 at 5:51 AM

    This is very helpful notes useful for higher classes and we read it in Class.

    Reply
  20. sammy says

    December 6, 2021 at 9:16 AM

    Its very helpful, short and clear explanations. Its also attractive to read.

    Reply

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