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Israh Binoj
Israh Binoj

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Wired Network Topology in detail | Israh Binoj

Why is a star topology more reliable than a bus topology, even though it needs more cables?

In a star topology, every computer is connected to a central device like a switch or hub.
If one cable or computer stops working, it doesn’t affect the rest of the network ,only that single connection fails.
But in a bus topology, all computers are connected through one main cable.
If that cable breaks or has a problem, the entire network stops working.
That’s why a star topology is more reliable even though it uses more wires.

In a ring topology, how does data know when to stop at the right computer?
In a ring topology, data travels in one direction around the circle.
Each computer checks if the data is meant for it.
If the address doesn’t match, it passes the data to the next computer.
When the right computer gets the data, it accepts it and stops passing it on.
This way, the message always reaches the correct device.

How can a logical topology differ from the physical wiring of a network in real life?

The physical topology shows how the devices are actually connected with cables.
The logical topology shows how the data moves between them.
For example, a network may be wired physically like a star (all computers connected to a switch),
but the data may flow in a straight line, like in a bus topology.
So, the way the network looks and the way data travels can be different.

Why does a mesh topology provide better fault tolerance compared to other topologies?

In a mesh topology, every computer is connected to all the other computers.
This gives multiple paths for data to travel.
If one cable fails, the data can still reach its destination through another route.
Because of this, mesh topology is very reliable, though it needs more cables and costs more to set up.

Why is bus topology considered outdated in modern wired networks, even though it’s cheap and simple?

Bus topology was used in older networks because it was easy to install and required only one main cable.
But it has many problems , when too many computers send data at the same time, the data can collide.
If the main cable gets damaged, the whole network stops working.
It’s also slow when more computers are added.
That’s why star or hybrid topologies are used more today.

Can a hybrid topology have both wired and wireless parts? How does it work together?

Yes, it can have both.
For example, in an office, some computers may be connected with cables in a star shape, while laptops and phones connect through Wi-Fi.
Both the wired and wireless parts can communicate with each other using the same network.
This makes hybrid topology more flexible and suitable for modern use.

What kind of cables are usually used in wired topologies and why are they preferred?

Most wired networks use Ethernet cables like Cat5e or Cat6.
They are preferred because they are fast, reliable, and can transfer data without much loss.
In bigger or faster networks, fiber optic cables are used.
They carry data as light signals, which makes them faster and better for long distances.

How the data collision occur in a bus topology, and how do modern systems avoid it?

In a bus topology, all computers share the same cable.
If two computers send data at the same time, the signals crash into each other, this is called a data collision.
When this happens, both computers have to resend their data, which slows the network.
Modern systems avoid this by using switches and special methods like CSMA/CD that check if the line is free before sending data.

In a mesh topology with 5 computers, how many direct wired connections will be required between them for a full connection?

In a full mesh topology, each computer is directly connected to every other computer.
To find the total number of connections, we use the formula n(n − 1) / 2.
Here, n = 5, so 5(5 − 1) / 2 = 10 connections in total.
That means every computer will have 4 separate cables connecting it to the other 4 computers.

So, here we explained wired network topology in detail with some questions... Stay tuned!

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