Network topology is one of the most important topics covered in the Cisco CCNA course in UK. It refers to the physical and logical structure of a network and involves how different nodes are connected. This article will discuss the four basic types of network topologies: bus, star, ring, and mesh.
Bus Topology
The bus topology is the simplest and most cost-effective topology. It consists of a single linear cable, to which all nodes are connected. It is easy to set up, but if the cable is damaged, the entire network will be down.
Star Topology
The star topology is the most popular. All nodes are connected to a central hub, which serves as the gateway to the other nodes. It is more reliable than the bus topology but is more expensive to set up.
Ring Topology
The ring topology is similar to the star topology, but instead of a central hub, all nodes are connected in a ring shape. It is reliable and easy to modify but requires a specialized network adapter for each node.
Mesh Topology
The mesh topology is the most complex. It consists of multiple nodes connected in a mesh-like pattern. Each node is connected to every other node, which makes it highly fault-tolerant. However, it is also the most expensive type of topology.
Conclusion
The four basic network topologies covered in the Cisco CCNA course are the bus, star, ring, and mesh topologies. Each topology has its pros and cons, and the choice of which to use depends on the specific needs of the network.