As previously
mentioned, each type of network has both a physical and a logical topology.
Physical Topologies
The physical topology of a network refers to the physical layout of the devices and cabling.
You must match the appropriate physical topology to the type of cabling that will be
installed. Therefore, understanding the type of cabling used is important to understanding
Exploring the Functions of Networking 13
each type of physical topology. Here are the three primary categories of physical
topologies:
?– Bus: Computers and other network devices are cabled together in a line.
?– Ring: Computers and other network devices are cabled together with the last device
connected to the ?¬?rst to form a circle, or ring. This category includes both ring and
dual-ring topologies.
?– Star: A central cabling device connects the computers and other network devices. This
category includes both star and extended-star topologies.
Figure 1-6 shows some common physical topologies used in networking.
Figure 1-6 Common Physical Topologies
Logical Topologies
The logical topology of a network refers to the logical paths that the signals use to travel
from one point on the network to another??”that is, the way in which data accesses the
network media and transmits packets across it.
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