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.
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.
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
- IEEE 802.1aq
- Internet topology
- Network simulator
- Relay network
- Rhizome (philosophy)
- Scale-free network
- Shared mesh
- Switched communication network
- Switched mesh
- Tree structure
External links
- Network topology @ Wikipedia
