Cabletron Systems MMAC-5FNB Networking Manual

Also see for MMAC-5FNB: Overview and setup guide

Contents

Cabletron Systems MMAC-5FNB Networking Manual Manual pdf 18 page image

Overview of Networking2-4The Classification of NetworksNetwork TopologyThe topology of a network refers to its physical layout or “shape.” The topologycharacteristic describes how components and cabling are interconnected. Usingthe meeting metaphor, the topology of a network can be seen as theorganizational structure of the meeting itself; will the meeting consist of severalcommittees making reports to each other when necessary? Will pre-determinedrepresentatives speak for the members of their group? Will an intermediary ormoderator determine who has the “floor,” or will the opportunity to speak passfrom participant to participant in a particular order?Although the growing complexity and scale of networks has caused sometopologies to bleed over into others, the topologies can be useful starting pointsfor describing the overall layout of a network or network segment. There are anumber of widely used topology descriptions for the most common topologies(see Figure 2-1).Figure 2-1. Network TopologiesBusRingStarHubTree1706n01