Star Network Topology
What is a network topology?
- A network topology is the physical structure of the network
- It defines how the network hardware will be arranged to create the network
- Different network models (PS2P/Client-Sever) can be used on a topology
- Many different topologies have been used in the world of networking however, there are two popular topologies to understand for the exam
- Star Topology
- Mesh Topology
What is a star topology?
- A star topology has a central switch which all other devices connect to
- A switch is an intelligent device which ensures that traffic only goes to the intended device
- A star topology is commonly seen in most homes, businesses, organisations and schools
What are the advantages of a star topology?
- If any single cable stops working, the rest of the network will continue to work
- An example you may have experienced would be in school when one computer won't log on to the network, but all other classmates can get logged on
- This is important because in other topologies if a cable was broken, all computers on the network would stop working which would have a negative impact on learning in schools and businesses completing their daily tasks
What are the disadvantages of a star topology?
- The central switch is a single point of failure
- This means that if the switch stops working, all of the devices connected to it will not be able to connect to the network or any of its facilities and resources
