Topology describes how nodes and links are arranged — it affects redundancy, cost, collision domains, and failure modes. Logical topology (how data flows) can differ from physical cabling (how wires run).
Topology describes how nodes and links are arranged — it affects redundancy, cost, collision domains, and failure modes. Logical topology (how data flows) can differ from physical cabling (how wires run).
| Topology | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Star | Simple, scalable, easy fault isolation | Core dependency without redundancy |
| Bus | Minimal cable (historical) | Collisions, hard troubleshooting |
| Full mesh | Maximum path redundancy | Expensive N² links |
| Tree | Clean aggregation, policy zones | Careful STP tuning if Layer2 loops |