Bus Topology

In this topology,each machine is connected to a single cable.Each computer or server is connected to the bus through some kind of connector.A terminator is required at each end of the bus cable to prevent the signal from bouncing back and forth on the bus.The cable used in the bus is trunk cable and the taps are used for connecting the devices with the trunk cable

The data from the source travel in both the direction to all machines connected on the bus cable.On this topology,the devices are uniquely identified by network address.Using this address,only the devices can communicate among one another

If a devices wants to send a message to a destination devices,it broadcasts the message with destination address through the trunk line.Each device in the topology checks the address of the data.if the machine address does not match the intended address it,ignores the data Alternatively if the address matches then the data is accepted

Advantage:

• Inexpensive to implement


• Easy to handle


• Well suited for small network


• less cabling

Disadvantage:

• Cable length is limited.This limits the number of stations that can be connected


• Can perform only for limited number of nodes


• Break in trunk cable stop all transmission in the network


• Difficult to add new devices