This section will introduce you to a number of different network topologies, but
this topic is a lead-in to a bigger topic introduced later in the chapter: network
architecture. A network architecture is made up of a topology, a cable type, and an
access method. Before we can discuss network architectures, we need to specify what
the different types of topologies, cables, and access methods are.
A network topology is the physical layout of computers, cables, and other
components on a network. There are a number of different network topologies, and
a network may be built using multiple topologies. The different types of network
layouts ar