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Network Topologies

Added 31 Jul 2008

Think of a topology as a network's virtual shape or structure. This shape does not necessarily correspond to the actual physical layout of the devices on the network. For example, the computers on a home LAN may be arranged in a circle in a family room, but it would be highly unlikely to find a ring topology there.

Network topologies are categorized into the following basic types:

  • bus
  • ring
  • star
  • tree
  • mesh
More complex networks can be built as hybrids of two or more of the above basic topologies.