Topology Facts

Question 1

Physical Topology

Answer 1

Describes the way the network is wired

Question 2

Logical Topology

Answer 2

Describes the way in which messages are sent

Question 3

Bus

Answer 3

Consists of a trunk cable with nodes wither inserted directly into the trunk or tapped into the trunk using offshoot cables called drop cables.

Question 4

Bus Facts

Answer 4

• Signal travel from node to all other nodes
• A device called a terminator is placed at both ends of the trunk cable
• Terminators absorb signals and prevent them from reflecting repeatedly back and forth on the cable.
• It can be difficult to isolate cabling problems
• A broken cable anywhere on the bus breaks the termination and prevents communications between any devices on the network

Question 5

Ring

Answer 5

Connects neighboring nodes until they form a ring. Signals travel in one directions around the ring; each device on the network acts as a repeater to send the signal to the next device

Question 6

Ring Facts

Answer 6

• Installation requires careful planning to create a continuous ring
• Isolating problems can require going to several physical location along the ring
• A malfunctioning node or cable break can prevent signals from reaching nodes further nodes further along on the ring.

Question 7

Star

Answer 7

Uses a switch a hub or switch to connect all network connection to single physical location. It is the most popular topology for a LAN

Question 8

Star Facts

Answer 8

• All network connections are located in a single place, which makes it easy to troubleshoot and reconfigure
• Nodes can be added to or removed from the network easily
• Cabling problems usually affect only one node

Question 9

Mesh

Answer 9

Exists when there are multiple paths between any two nodes on a network. Mesh topologies are created using point-to-point connections. Increases the network’s fault tolerance because alternate paths can be used when one path fails
* Impractical for in standard LAN

Question 10

Partial Mesh

Answer 10

Some redundant paths exist

Question 11

Full Mesh

Answer 11

Every node has a point-to-point connection with every other node

Question 12

Logical Topology: BUS

Physical Topology: BUS/STAR

Answer 12

Messages ae sent to all devices connected to the bus

Question 13

Logical Topology: RING

Physical Topology: RING/STAR

Answer 13

Messages are sent from device to device in a predetermined order until they reach the destination device

Question 14

Logical Topology: STAR

Physical Topology: STAR

Answer 14

Messages are sent directly to (and only to) the destination device

Question 15

Logical Topology: MESH

Physical Topology: MESH

Answer 15

Messages are sent from one device to the next around the ring until they reach the destination device.