describes the layout of the network or how devices are connected.
Logical Topology
describes how devices communicate with each other or how data is transmitted on the network.
Bus Topology
Signals travel from one node to all other nodes.
Terminators absorb signals and prevent them from reflecting repeatedly back and forth on the cable.
It can be difficult to isolate cabling problems.
Bus topology is the same physically and logically. Messages are sent to all devices connected to the bus. If the message was for them they accept it if not they discard it.
Ring topology
A ring topology connects neighboring nodes until they form a ring.
Signals travel in one direction around the ring;
each device on the network acts as a repeater to send the signal to the next device until it reaches the destined device.
Ring topology is the same physically and logically.
Star Topology
all devices are connected to a central connecting device. This device then sends the info to the correct computer. In this way data is sent directly to the intended device only.
The star topology can use different logical topologies. It can send messages to all the devices like Bus, it can send data in a predetermined order like Ring or it can send directly using Star.
Mesh Topology
Each device is connected to every other device in a point to point connection. This allows redundancy, if one path of data transfer fails there is another path data can take.
Mesh topology is the same physically and logically. Messages are sent from one device to the next around the ring until they reach the destination device.