The network-topology is the physical or logical arrangement in which the devices or nodes of a network (these devices like computers, printers, servers, hubs, switches, routers, and so on) are interconnected with each other over a communication medium. That consists of two parts – the physical topology, which is the actual arrangement of the cables (the media), and the logical topology, which defines how the hosts access the media.

The types of network topologies –

Bus topology –

In this topology, each workstation is connected to a main cable called a bus. So, in effect, each workstation is directly connected to every other workstation on the network.

Star topology –

In this topology, a central computer or server to which all workstations are directly connected. Every workstation is indirectly connected to each-other through the central computer.

Ring topology –

In this topology, the workstations are connected in a closed-loop configuration. Impending workstation pairs are directly connected. And other pairs of workstations are indirectly connected, passing data through one or more intermediate nodes.

Mesh topology –

In this topology, has two forms – full and partial mesh. Into the full mesh topology, each workstation is directly connected to each other. In the partial mesh topology, some workstations are connected to all the others, and some are connected only to the other nodes with which they exchange more data.

Tree topology –

In this topology uses two or more star networks connected to each other. A central computers in star networks are connected to the main bus. Hereby, the tree network is a bus network of star networks.

Signal topology –

The Signal or Logical topology are refers to the nature of the paths that signals follow from node to node. According to many cases, the logical topology is the same as the physical topology. But it’s not always like this. Suppose that, some networks are physically arranged in a star configuration, but they function logically as bus or ring networks.