Case Study

Topology Diagram

TOPOLOGIES

Bus Topology

Bus networks (not to be confused with the system bus of a computer) use a common backbone to connect all devices. A single cable, the backbone functions as a shared communication medium that devices attach or tap into with an interface connector. A device wanting to communicate with another device on the network sends a broadcast message onto the wire that all other devices see, but only the intended recipient actually accepts and processes the message.

Advantages

* Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear bus

* Requires less cable length than a star topology

* It works well for small networks.

Disadvantages

* Entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable

* Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable

* Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down

* Not meant to be used as a stand-alone solution in a large building

* It is slow when more devices are added into the network

* If a main cable is damaged then network will fail or be split into two networks

Tree Topology

Tree topologies integrate multiple star topologies together onto a bus. In its simplest form, only hub devices connect directly to the tree bus, and each hub functions as the root of a tree of devices. This bus/star hybrid approach supports future expandability of the network much better than a bus (limited in the number of devices due to the broadcast traffic it generates) or a star (limited by the number of hub connection points) alone.

Advantages

* It is scalable. Secondary nodes allow more devices to be connected to a central node.

* Point to point connection of devices.

* Having different levels of the network makes it more manageable hence easier fault identification and isolation.

Mesh Topology

Mesh topologies involve the concept of routes. Unlike each of the previous topologies, messages sent on a mesh network can take any of...