Network topology

Bus

• One system transmits at a time
• Every end system will receive every signal sent through the backbone.
• A break in the spine will disrupt the whole network.

Ring

• Usually unidirectional, so can be up to a maximum of \(n-1\) transfers for system 2 to talk to system 1.
• A break disrupts the whole network.

Star

• All systems talk through a central router/switch.
• Router goes down → everything goes down.