Network Topology

Network topology is the arrangement of devices (nodes) and the links between them. The physical topology is how cables and devices are laid out; the logical topology is how data actually flows.

In a bus topology all devices share one cable. In a star topology each device connects to a central switch, the most common layout today. In a ring topology each device connects to two neighbours in a loop. In a mesh topology devices have many interconnections, so traffic can take another path if a link fails. Tree and hybrid topologies combine these.