WHAT IS A COMPUTER NETWORK?

A computer network is a group of computers that use a set of common communication protocols over digital interconnections for the purpose of sharing resources located on or provided by the network nodes.

WHAT IS NETWORK TOPOLOGY?

Network topology is the arrangement of the elements of a communication network. Network topology can be used to define or describe the arrangement of various types of telecommunication networks, including command and control radio networks, industrial fieldbusses and computer networks.

Network topology is the schematic description of the arrangement of the physical and logical elements of a communication network.

It refers to the manner in which the links and nodes of a network are arranged to relate to each other. Topologies are categorized as either physical network topology, which is the physical signal transmission medium, or logical network topology, which refers to the manner in which data travels through the network between devices, independent of physical connection of the devices. Logical network topology examples include twisted pair Ethernet, which is categorized as a logical bus topology, and token ring, which is categorized as a logical ring topology.

Physical network topology examples include star, mesh, tree, ring, point-to-point, circular, hybrid, and bus topology networks, each consisting of different configurations of nodes and links. The ideal network topology depends on each business’s size, scale, goals, and budget. A network topology diagram helps visualize the communicating devices, which are modeled as nodes, and the connections between the devices, which are modeled as links between the nodes.

Network Topology Software

In determining how to design network topology that is ideal for the needs and usage requirements of a network, it is crucial to first develop a comprehensive understanding of the network’s functionality. Network topology mapper software is a valuable network topology tool that creates network topology diagrams, which illustrate a visual overview of the network infrastructure. Network topology mapping software visualizes how devices connect and aids in identifying the most efficient topology.

Once a configuration is selected, network topology design software, network configuration management tools, and network management software solutions aid not only in building network topology, but also in automating configuration, continuously monitoring performance, and troubleshooting network issues. There are both proprietary and free network topology software solutions on the market, such as Microsoft Visio and LibreOffice Draw.

Network Topologies and the Physical Network

The earlier physical networks of computing at the end of the 20th century used these methods above to create these topologies explicitly. It’s fairly simple to envision the individual workstations being connected through Ethernet, or later through Wi-Fi, in a ring, star, tree, or bus setup, or any of the other topologies mentioned. However, figuring out the best topology involves a detailed look at the goals and objectives and other setup factors for a given network.

Topologies and the Virtual Network

As the cloud became a place to keep data, run networks and deliver end-user services, the concept of virtualization took over the world of modern computing.

In a virtualized network, those traditional physical pieces of hardware are to an extent replaced by logical partitioned resources often called “virtual machines” that parcel out CPU and memory accordingly. With that in mind, the traditional network topologies might still be used, but they’re more logical than they are a way to characterize hardware setups. In other words, the logical topologies are built “on top of” the physical topologies that connect hardware.

In this type of modern network, the mesh topology, or a vibrant tree topology, would perhaps be more applicable and more popular. Where specific network destinations receive addresses and are dealt with as though they are individual nodes of the network, they’re more likely to be connected to many other nodes than they would have been in the early days when that required individual physical linking.

In addition, new best practices have evolved: for physical topologies, that includes assessing the capability of systems to offer features like high bandwidth, large bisection capacities, and a greater number of alternative data paths. In the world of logical topologies, experts have begun to talk about “topology switching” as a means of dynamic customization for VLANs and other network setups.

Network Topology and Opacity

In the most modern systems, networks have become so complex that traditional topologies now apply in different ways. One of these phenomena is the use of opaque systems to foil hackers or outside cyberattacks. Some experts are now suggesting that by shielding the IP addresses and isolating different parts of the network into segments, companies can practice better cybersecurity hygiene. All of that continues to change how network topologies are used.

WHAT IS BUS TOPOLOGY?

A bus network topology is a type of network topology in which nodes are directly connected to a common half-duplex link called a bus. A host on a bus network is called a station. In a bus network, every station will receive all network traffic, and the traffic generated by each station has equal transmission priority.

FEATURES OF BUS TOPOLOGY

In a bus topology, all nodes or devices are linked with one transmitter or server computer via a single cable (mostly coaxial cable) called backbone. All nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines. A drop line is a connection running between the nodes and the main cable.

Differences between Star Topology and Bus Topology:

S.NO.	Star Topology	Bus Topology
1.	Star topology is a topology in which all devices are connected to a central hub.	Bus topology is a topology where each device is connected to a single cable which is known as the backbone.
2.	In star topology if central hub fails then whole network fails.	In Bus topology the failure of the network cable will cause the whole network to fail .
3.	Management of high traffic and performance of the network is highly dependent on the capacity of the central hub.	Bus topology can not effectively manage high amount of traffic as if there is high traffic then performance of the network is affected.
4.	Star topology does not have any terminator.	Bus topology has a terminators at both end of the network.
5.	Star topology has high implementation cost because of central hub and extra wires required for connection.	Bus topology is less expensive than star topology.
6.	Data transmission is faster in star topology.	In Bus topology the data is transmitted slower as compared to star topology.
7.	In star topology the communication between nodes are done through central hub, message from sender node reaches central hub first then it is transmitted to receiver node.	In Bus topology the data from sender device to receiver device is sent directly.

ADVANTAGES OF BUS TOPOLOGY

Advantages of Bus Topology

• Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear bus.
• Requires less cable length than a star topology.
• Entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
• Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
• Not meant to be used as a stand-alone solution.

DISADVANTAGES OF BUS TOPOLOGY

• Bus topology is not great for large networks.
• Identification of problem becomes difficult if whole network goes down.
• Troubleshooting of individual device issues is very hard.
• Need of terminators are required at both ends of main cable.
• Additional devices slow network down.

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