Computer Network Basics Questions Medium
A bus topology is a type of network topology in which all devices are connected to a single communication line, known as a bus. In this topology, data is transmitted in both directions along the bus, and each device on the network receives the transmitted data and checks if it is the intended recipient. If the data is not meant for that device, it is ignored.
In a bus topology, all devices share the same communication medium, which can be a coaxial cable or a twisted pair cable. The devices are connected to the bus using connectors called taps or drop lines. The bus topology is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement, as it requires less cabling compared to other topologies.
However, a major drawback of the bus topology is that if the main bus cable fails, the entire network can be affected. Additionally, as all devices share the same communication line, the network performance can be impacted if multiple devices attempt to transmit data simultaneously, leading to collisions and decreased efficiency.
Overall, the bus topology is commonly used in small networks or as a backbone for larger networks, where the simplicity and cost-effectiveness outweigh the potential limitations.