What are the 5 Network Topologies with Examples

In this tutorial, we are going to see what are the 5 network topologies with examples. A computer network is made up of computers linked together by communication cables (network cables, etc.) and hardware elements (network cards, as well as other equipment to ensure the proper flow of data). The physical arrangement, i.e. the spatial configuration of the network is called physical topology. The main types of topology are as follows

• Bus topology
• Star topology
• Ring topology
• Tree topology
• Mesh topology

Logical topology, as opposed to physical topology, represents the way data flows through communication lines. The most common logical topologies are Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI.
 

 

Bus Topology

A bus topology is the simplest type of network organization. Indeed, in a bus topology, all the computers are connected to the same transmission line through a cable, usually coaxial. The word “bus” refers to the physical line that connects the machines in the network.
 

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This topology has the advantage of being easy to implement and simple to operate. On the other hand, it is extremely vulnerable since if one of the connections is faulty, the whole network is affected.
 

Star topology

In a star topology, the computers in the network are connected to a central hardware system called a hub. This is a box containing a number of junctions to which network cables from the computers can be connected. The role of the hub is to ensure communication between the various junctions.
 

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Unlike networks built on a bus topology, networks following a star topology are much less vulnerable because one of the connections can be disconnected without paralyzing the rest of the network. The key point of this network is the hub because without it no more communication between the computers of the network is possible.

On the other hand, a star topology network is more expensive than a bus topology network because additional hardware is required (the hub).
 

 

Ring topology

In a network with a Ring topology, the computers are located on a loop and communicate each in turn.
 

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The computers are arranged on a closed-loop creating a ring. This is called a token-ring network because the operating mode involves a single token that the stations pass to each other and that gives them the authorization to communicate.

The stations play an equivalent role, each one being able to transmit and intercept information circulating in the ring. When a station receives information that is not intended for it, it transmits it directly to the next station.

The two main logical topologies using this physical topology are Token Ring, and FDDI.

Advantage: Easy to cover large distances compared to other topologies since each node regenerates messages as they transit.

Disadvantage: A message can pass through many nodes.
 

 

Tree topology

It combines the characteristics of bus and star topologies.

Also called hierarchical network. A tree topology is made up of interconnected buses.
 

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Advantage: Well suited for large computer networks because the entire network is divided into parts and is, therefore, easier to manage.

Disadvantage: The entire network is dependent on central elements and a failure of these elements can paralyze the entire network.
 

 

Mesh topology

In a mesh network, several paths are possible to route information from one computer to another.

The routing of the data is organized thanks to routers.
 

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A mesh network is a network in which nodes are connected in such a way that at least some, and sometimes all, have multiple paths to other nodes. This creates multiple paths for information between pairs of users, which increases the resiliency of the network in case of a node or connection failure. In a full mesh topology, each node in the network is directly connected to every other node. The decision of which nodes to mesh depends on factors such as the traffic pattern of the network as a group and the degree to which nodes or connections are likely to fail.
 
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