7.3.1 Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh

Here are some common ways networks can be arranged:

Bus Topology: Imagine a single, long road (the "bus" or backbone cable) with houses (computers) connected along it. Data travels along this single cable. If the main cable breaks, the whole network goes down. It's simple but not very fault-tolerant. *
Star Topology: This is like a bicycle wheel with a hub in the middle (a central device like a switch or router) and spokes going out to each computer. Every computer connects individually to the central device. If one spoke breaks, only that computer loses connection; the rest of the network keeps working. This is very common in homes, schools, and offices today because it's reliable and easy to manage. *
Ring Topology: Imagine computers connected in a circle, where data travels from one computer to the next around the ring, usually in one direction. If one connection breaks, the whole ring can be disrupted, but some ring networks can send data in the other direction to work around a break. *
Mesh Topology: This is like a complex spiderweb where many or all computers are connected directly to many or all other computers. It's very reliable because if one connection breaks, there are many other paths for data to take. However, it requires a lot of cables and connections, making it expensive and complex to set up. It's often used in critical systems or in wireless networks where devices act as relays. *

Bibliography:

What are network topologies? (2020, April 21, 2020). N-able. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.n-able.com/blog/most-effective-types-of-network-topology-a-quick-guide-for-msp
Network Topologies. (2025, July 8). GeeksforGeeks. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/types-of-network-topology/#