Network Topology Identification

Unit 4 - Network Types & Topologies

Instructions

Identify network topologies and compare their characteristics. Main topologies: Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh

Name each network topology shown:

Topology A:

Topology B:

Topology C:

Topology D:

Complete the table with ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage for each topology:

Which topology would be most suitable for each scenario? Explain why.

a) A small office with 10 computers and a central server:

b) A network where reliability is critical and cost is not a concern (e.g., military):

c) A temporary network setup at an event with minimal cabling:

Match each network type to its description:

A. PAN

B. LAN

C. WAN

Network spanning multiple cities or countries

Network within a single building or campus

Network for personal devices within arm's reach

a) What happens in a star topology if the central hub/switch fails?

b) Why is a bus topology rarely used in modern networks?

View Answer Key (for self-marking)

Q1: A-Star, B-Bus, C-Ring, D-Mesh

Q2 Star: Adv: Easy to add devices, one failure doesn't affect others. Disadv: Hub failure brings down network

Q2 Bus: Adv: Simple, cheap, less cabling. Disadv: Cable break affects all, collisions, limited length

Q2 Ring: Adv: Equal access, no collisions. Disadv: One break affects all, difficult to add devices

Q2 Mesh: Adv: Very reliable, multiple paths. Disadv: Expensive, complex, lots of cabling

Q3a: Star - centralized management, easy to maintain and expand

Q3b: Mesh - maximum redundancy, if one link fails data can use alternative paths

Q3c: Bus - minimal cabling required, quick to set up

Q4: C-WAN (cities/countries), B-LAN (building/campus), A-PAN (personal/arm's reach)

Q5a: The entire network goes down as all devices connect through the hub

Q5b: Limited scalability, collision issues, single point of failure, slow compared to modern star networks