Network Topologies
Star, Bus, and Ring.
Ring Networks
A ring network is where information is transferred round all connected devices in a clockwise direction until it reaches its destinations. If the connection to one of the computers is interrupted, the network will break, and no-one in the network will get information transferred to them as the whole network is broken.
Advantage: Easy to set-up and use.
Disadvantage: Easier to break.
Bus Networks
A bus network works like a ring network, but the information is routed to the computer which requests the information in the first place. If a computer is broken or not responding to the network, the network breaks, resulting in no information going in, or out, of the network.
Advantage: Information does not have to pass through all connected devices.
Disadvantage: Easily broken.
Star Networks
A star network is probably the most reliable network available out of the three. From a central server, each computer has a separate connection, so if the connection is interrupted from a computer, the network still functions normally.
Advantage: Network won't break if a device is interrupted.
Disadvantage: Hub can break.