CertiGuide to A+ (A+ 4 Real)  9  Chapter 13: Basic Networking Terminology       9  OSI Reference Model and Networking Protocols and Technologies            9  Layer 2 - Data Link Layer                 9  Network Topology

Bus 1 Extended Star

Star is the topology that has superseded Bus in modern LANs along with the transition of networks to UTP ¹⁷⁸. The computer is connected by a separate cable to the common device (hub or switch), taking place in the center of a network that broadcasts the received signals for transfer to the recipient. Reliability is much greater; because in the event of damage to the cable malfunction is limited only to this single one, and the other computers connected to the network device perform as before the breakage. Only failure of the central device will result in the disruption of the entire network segment. It is important to purchase central equipment whose characteristics will define the functionality of entire network. From a logical perspective, the flow of all information would go through one device and this might be desirable for security or restricted access reasons, but it would be very susceptible to any problems in the star's central node.

Bus 1 Extended Star