Network topology

Network topology is the arrangement of the various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network.

Description

The topological structure of a network may be depicted physically or logically:

• Physical topology is the placement of the various components of a network, including device location and cable installation

• Logical topology illustrates how data flows within a network, regardless of its physical design

Distances between nodes, physical interconnections, transmission rates, or signal types may differ between two networks, yet their topologies may be identical.

Physical topology

An example is a local area network (LAN): Any given node in the LAN has one or more physical links to other devices in the network; graphically mapping these links results in a geometric shape that can be used to describe the physical topology of the network.

Mapping data flow

Conversely, mapping the data flow between the components determines the logical topology of the network.

See also

• Broadcast communication network
• Computer network
• Computer network diagram
• Data link
• IEEE 802.1aq
• Internet topology
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Network simulator
• Node (networking)
• Relay network
• Rhizome (philosophy)
• Scale-free network
• Shared mesh
• Switched communication network
• Switched mesh
• Tree structure

External links

• Network topology @ Wikipedia