CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 1011:  Networking       9  VII  Networking Topologies

Mesh Topology 1 VIII  Protocols

Today, for a variety of reasons (all coming down to some sort of cost) the star topology is where most network installations in an office occur.

All the wiring comes to a central point, not unlike the spokes of a wagon wheel.

When data needs to get from one spoke to another, it heads off to the center and back out.

The good news about a star topology is if a PC goes down, it doesn't affect the other computers, like the Bus does.

The bad news is there is a single point of failure at that center point that can kill the ability of every PC to send data on the network.

With the physical wiring schemes explained, a brief tour of how the data actually gets on the wires is the next topic.

Mesh Topology 1 VIII  Protocols