Tree Topology

A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. Normally this topology consists of groups of star configured workstations connected to a linear bus backbone cable. Only the hub devices can connect directly with the tree bus and each Hub functions as a root of a tree of the network devices. So tree topology occurs when multiple star topologies are connected together such that not every node is directly connected to a central hub. That's why we can derive that the Tree Topology is a combination of the bus and the Star Topology.

This topology is particularly helpful for colleges, universities and schools so that each of the branches can identify the relevant systems in their own network and yet connect to the big network in some way. Because tree like structure allows to have many servers on the network and can branch out the network in many ways. Tree Topology is supported by many network vendors and even hardware vendors and in the same time point to point connection is possible with Tree Networks. However Tree Topology network is big. So it is difficult to configure and can get complicated after a certain point even though it is entirely dependent on trunk. So If it has fail entire network would fail.

While considering all these above things and by go through the tree topology we can present following advantages and disadvantages of the tree topology in point form as follows,

Advantages of a Tree Topology

• Point to point wiring for individual segments.
  
• Point to point connection is possible with Tree Networks.
  
• Supported by several hardware and software venders.
  
• All the computers have access to the larger and their immediate networks.
  
• Good to branch out networks.
  

Disadvantages of a Tree Topology

• More difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.
  
• More difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.
  
• If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down.
  
• Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling used.
  
• Entirely dependent on the trunk