Network+™ Fast Pass

1.1. Recognizing Logical and Physical Network Topologies

Basically, a topology is a shape, so a network topology is the shape of a network. There is, however, a big difference between a physical network topology and a logical network topology. The physical network topology represents how the network looks to the naked eye—in other words, the way the components are arranged. The logical network topology represents how the flow of information works its way through the network. This may not be the same as it looks to the naked eye. You should understand the main network topologies as well as the difference between a physical network topology and a logical one. In this section, we discuss the most common network topologies.

1.1.1. Critical Information ...