Computer Network Topology

Network topology is the physical interconnection of the elements of a computer network. Broadly there are two kinds of elements in computer networks - node and link. Topology is the two dimensional geometric shape or structure formed in a network with its nodes being apices and the links being the sides. This shape may or may not match with the actual physical design of the devices on the computer network. Even in identical topologies, distances between nodes, physical interconnections, information transmission rates, and/or signal types may vary from each other. Exclusively in Local Area Networks (LAN) both a physical topology and a logical topology are homologous with respect to links and nodes.

Broadly network topology can be categorized into two types:

Physical
Logical
Physical topologies are commonly:
Bus - nodes occurring on both sides of a single line of link; it can be linear with two end points or, distributed with multiple end points.
Star - multiple nodes around being connected in radiating fashion to a central node.
Tree (hierarchical) - links being branched into multiple levels to connect nodes.
Ring - each node being connected to adjacent two nodes, forming a close ring.
Mesh - each node connected to other nodes in the network:
Partially connected -each node being connected to at least one node of the network,
Fully connected (sometimes known as fully redundant) - each node connected to at least two adjacent nodes in the network.
Types of logical topologies are analogous to the types of physical topologies. Yet the links among nodes are defined by the actual direction of flow of data among the nodes. Actual physical connectivity between the nodes of logical topology may or may not exist.
There also exists signal topology. It is defined by the path of actual signal transmission among the nodes. For a given point of time, signal topology is the real mapping of connectivity among the nodes.

Often signal topology is used interchangeably with logical topology. But they are quite different indeed. Signal topology is the geometry of signal transmission, while logical topology is the map of data transmission. The two are always not analogous.

Jacob Taylor works an adviser to Aleksys Technologies. For more information on network topology, please visit web design company

Network topology is the physical interconnection of the elements of a computer network. Broadly there are two kinds of elements in computer networks - node and link. Topology is the two dimensional geometric shape or structure formed in a network with its nodes being apices and the links being the sides. This shape may or may not match with the actual physical design of the devices on the computer network. Even in identical topologies, distances between nodes, physical interconnections, information transmission rates, and/or signal types may vary from each other. Exclusively in Local Area Networks (LAN) both a physical topology and a logical topology are homologous with respect to links and nodes.

Broadly network topology can be categorized into two types:

Physical
Logical
Physical topologies are commonly:
Bus - nodes occurring on both sides of a single line of link; it can be linear with two end points or, distributed with multiple end points.
Star - multiple nodes around being connected in radiating fashion to a central node.
Tree (hierarchical) - links being branched into multiple levels to connect nodes.
Ring - each node being connected to adjacent two nodes, forming a close ring.
Mesh - each node connected to other nodes in the network:
Partially connected -each node being connected to at least one node of the network,
Fully connected (sometimes known as fully redundant) - each node connected to at least two adjacent nodes in the network.
Types of logical topologies are analogous to the types of physical topologies. Yet the links among nodes are defined by the actual direction of flow of data among the nodes. Actual physical connectivity between the nodes of logical topology may or may not exist.
There also exists signal topology. It is defined by the path of actual signal transmission among the nodes. For a given point of time, signal topology is the real mapping of connectivity among the nodes.

Often signal topology is used interchangeably with logical topology. But they are quite different indeed. Signal topology is the geometry of signal transmission, while logical topology is the map of data transmission. The two are always not analogous.

Jacob Taylor works an adviser to Aleksys Technologies. For more information on network topology, please visit web design company
Network topology is the physical interconnection of the elements of a computer network. Broadly there are two kinds of elements in computer networks - node and link. Topology is the two dimensional geometric shape or structure formed in a network with its nodes being apices and the links being the sides. This shape may or may not match with the actual physical design of the devices on the computer network. Even in identical topologies, distances between nodes, physical interconnections, information transmission rates, and/or signal types may vary from each other. Exclusively in Local Area Networks (LAN) both a physical topology and a logical topology are homologous with respect to links and nodes.

Broadly network topology can be categorized into two types:

Physical
Logical
Physical topologies are commonly:
Bus - nodes occurring on both sides of a single line of link; it can be linear with two end points or, distributed with multiple end points.
Star - multiple nodes around being connected in radiating fashion to a central node.
Tree (hierarchical) - links being branched into multiple levels to connect nodes.
Ring - each node being connected to adjacent two nodes, forming a close ring.
Mesh - each node connected to other nodes in the network:
Partially connected -each node being connected to at least one node of the network,
Fully connected (sometimes known as fully redundant) - each node connected to at least two adjacent nodes in the network.
Types of logical topologies are analogous to the types of physical topologies. Yet the links among nodes are defined by the actual direction of flow of data among the nodes. Actual physical connectivity between the nodes of logical topology may or may not exist.
There also exists signal topology. It is defined by the path of actual signal transmission among the nodes. For a given point of time, signal topology is the real mapping of connectivity among the nodes.

Often signal topology is used interchangeably with logical topology. But they are quite different indeed. Signal topology is the geometry of signal transmission, while logical topology is the map of data transmission. The two are always not analogous.

Jacob Taylor works an adviser to Aleksys Technologies. For more information on network topology, please visit web design company