A214 - Network Topologies

Question 1

What are the advantages of a bus network over a star network?

Answer 1

Cheaper to implement as no central node is required.

Question 2

What are the advantages of a star network over a bus network?

Answer 2

More secure as only devices that requested data have access to the data.
Collisions do not occur as each device communicates with a central node that synchronises everything itself.
If the backbone of the bus network fails then all devices connected cannot communicate.

Question 3

What is the difference between a logical topology and a physical topology?

Answer 3

Physical topology refers to how devices are actually connected with cables and radio waves, whereas logical topology refers to how devices are able to directly communicate with eachother. A logical topology often hides the complexities of the physical topology.