This key facts covers Bus Topology within Network Topologies for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Network Topologies in Networks for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 5 of 11 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 5 of 11
Practice
15 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
Bus Topology
What is Bus Topology?
All devices connect to a single main cable (the "bus" or "backbone"). Data travels along the bus, and all devices receive the transmission, but only the intended recipient processes it.
How It Works:
- Backbone cable: One main cable runs through the building
- Tapped connections: Devices tap into the backbone cable
- Broadcast: Data sent by one device is seen by ALL devices
- Terminators: Special resistors at both ends prevent signal reflection
Bus Topology Advantages:
- Cheap: Uses minimal cable - just one backbone
- Easy to install: Simple to set up for small networks
- No central device needed: No expensive hub or switch required
- Easy to extend: Just add a new device to the backbone
Bus Topology Disadvantages:
- Single point of failure: If backbone cable breaks, ENTIRE network fails
- Performance degrades: More devices = more collisions = slower network
- Difficult troubleshooting: Hard to locate cable breaks
- Limited cable length: Signal degrades over long distances
- Security issues: All devices can see all traffic
- Largely obsolete: Rarely used in modern networks
Historical Note:
Bus topology was popular in the 1980s-1990s (10BASE2, 10BASE5 Ethernet), but has been replaced by star topology in modern networks due to reliability and performance issues.