Quick Reference - Topologies Summary

Quick Reference - Topologies Summary

Star Topology:

• Structure: Central switch with radiating connections
• Advantages: Easy to add devices, isolated failures, easy troubleshooting
• Disadvantages: Central switch = single point of failure
• Use: Homes, offices, schools (most common!)

Mesh Topology:

• Structure: Multiple interconnections between devices
• Advantages: No single point of failure, very reliable, multiple paths
• Disadvantages: Very expensive, complex setup and management
• Use: Critical systems, data centers, ISP backbone

Bus & Ring (Historical):

• Bus: Single backbone cable - cheap but unreliable (obsolete)
• Ring: Closed loop with token passing (obsolete)
• Note: Both largely replaced by star in modern networks

The Golden Rule:

Star = Central switch (single point of failure) but cheap and practical. Mesh = No single point of failure (redundant paths) but very expensive. Always mention cost vs reliability trade-off!