CCNA Quick Reference Sheets (CCNA Exam 640-802)

Section 4. LAN Network Topologies

Choosing the Right Network Topology

A topology refers to the way in which network devices are connected.

A physical topology refers to the physical layout of the endpoints and the connecting cables. The three primary categories of physical topologies are as follows:

• Bus

• Ring

• Star

A logical topology refers to how signals travel from endpoint to endpoint. The physical and logical topologies can be the same or different. An example of this is a network in which each endpoint is connected to every other endpoint (a meshed network) but the signal can flow in only sequential order (a ring network). The following sections discuss each topology.

As shown in Figure 4-1, a bus or linear bus connects all devices with ...