Bus Topology

According to this topology all devices are connected to a central cable called the bus or backbone. Common backbone is which that bus topology uses to connect all the network devices in a network in a linear shape. So this is how bus topology connects each computer on the network into the segment trunk. This was generally implemented using coaxial cable during the 1980's.According to this network topology single cable functions as the shared communication medium for all the devices attached with this cable with an interface connector.

The signal travels from one end of the bus to the other. At every end a terminator is placed in the cable. A terminator is required at each to absorb the signal so as it does not reflect back across the bus. Normally a true bus network considered to be a passive network because the computers are largely dependent on the signal that is being transmitted. In a Bus Topology a signal is broadcast to all modes, but only the destination node responds to the signal.

According to this topology if break part of the cable or remove the terminator, all machines on that segment lose communication with the network. When consider about this topology we can identify that traffic generated by any computer will travel across the backbone and be received by all workstations.

So when the number of computers increases network traffic can greatly decrease the performance and available bandwidth of the network. however to the bus topology it is easy to add devices or delete them from the Network as devices are simply daisy chained along the Network Bus. Bus Topology is most appropriate when the linked devices are physically close to one another.

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

Advantages of a Bus Topology

• Easy to connect a computer or peripheral to a linear bus.
  
• Requires less cable length than a star topology
  
• Well suited for temporary networks
  
• Good for smaller networks not requiring higher speeds
  
• Quick setup
  
• Less expensive than a star topology due to less footage of cabling and no network hubs
  
• Easy to implement and extend.
  

Disadvantages of a Linear Bus Topology

• Entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
  
• Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable.
  
• Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
  
• Not meant to be used as a standalone solution in a large building.
  
• One host can transmit at a time.
  
• Don't react well to more and more hosts being added.
  
• The most hosts we have on a bus, the more collisions we have. So more retransmissions
  
• Maximum data transfer speed is 16mbps
  
• Maximum 200m.If two PCs are communicated the PC on either side will not be able to communicate.
  
• Maintenance cost may be higher in the long run.
  
• As the number of computers increase in the network the data transfer rate goes down