Classification Based on Topology

Topology is a physical and logical structure of a Network
1. Bus Topology 
     Cable runs from one PCto another.
     One PC sends data. All hosts receives it and accepts only whose network address matches.
     Only one PC can send data at a time.
     The network doesnot fail if one PC fail.
     Break connector or loose connector can make whole network failed.
     Difficult to troubleshoot
     Easy to extend the network; means easy to add or install a new PC to the network.

2. Ring Topology
     All PC have same priority.
     Only one direction.
     Each PC connected to other and finally last PC conected to the first PC.
     Improved version of Bus topology.
     Each PC sends what it receives until final destination arrives.
     Whole network fails if one PC fails.

3. Star Topology
          Cable runs from PC to centralised device.
          Centralised device may be Hub or Switch.
          Easy to add a new PC thus extend network.
          Whole network doesnot fail if a PC fails.
          Major disadvantage is if central device fails whole network fails.

4. Mesh Topology
         Topology in which each node of the network is connected to each of the other nodes in the  network with a point to point link.
         This makes it possible for data to be simultaneously transmitted from a single node to all other.
         Network never goes down.

         Disadvantage : Too costly, complex for practical networks.

5. Tree Topology
         Known as hierarchial network.
         A network based upon physical hierarchial topology must have atleast three levels in hierarchy of the tree, since a network with central root node and only one level would exhibit a star topology.
     
6. Hybrid Topology
         More than one topology comes in a single network.


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