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star / hierarchical - Computers in a star topology are connected by cables to a hub. In this topology management of the network is made much easier (such as adding and removing devices), because of the central point. However because it is centralized more cable is required.

Bus - In bus topologies, all computers are connected to a single cable or "trunk or backbone", by a transceiver either directly or by using a short drop cable. All ends of the cable must be terminated, that is plugged into a device such as a computer or terminator. Most bus topologies use coax cables.

Mesh - A Mesh topology Provides each device with a point-to-point connection to every other device in the network. These are most commonly used in WAN's, which connect networks over telecommunication links. Mesh topologies use routers to determine the best path.

Ring - In a ring topology network computers are connected by a single loop of cable, the data signals travel around the loop in one direction, passing through each computer. Ring topology is an active topology because each computer repeats (boosts) the signal before passing it on to the next computer.

wireless - A wireless network consists of wireless NICs and access points. NICs come in different models including PC card, ISA, PCI, etc. access points act as wireless hubs to link multiple wireless NICs into a single subnet. access points also have at least one fixed ethernet port to allow the wireless network to be bridged to a traditional wired ethernet network, such as the organizations network infrastructure. wireless and wired devices can coexist on the same network.

// posted by 91850 @ 10:45 PM