Networks all have a physical topology.
Physical Topology – the way a network is laid out physically.
Two or more devices connect to a link
Two or more links form a topology.
A linking device in a network is called a node.
There are four basic types of topologies available.
1. Mesh – every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other
device.
In a mesh topology, each physical link carries information only between the
two devices that it connects.
If it is a duplex connection, you only need half the physical links, since each
link travels both ways.
Advantages of a Mesh topology
• Avoid traffic since each link can carry its own data and none are being
shared
• If one link breaks, the rest of the network is still functional
• Privacy since only the dedicated device receives the message.
• Easy to detect a problem in the network by discovering which device is
having problems and examining the link that connects to it.
Disadvantages of a Mesh topology
• A lot of cables are needed
• Too many cables too much cost
• Too many cables not enough physical space