Tree Topology: Advantages and Disadvantages

INTRODUCTION

Network Topology is a systematic layout of nodes over a network. This layout also determines the manner in which information is exchanged within the network.

Tree topology is the combination of the bus and the star topology. Tree topology allows users to have many servers on the network. Tree topology follows a hierarchical pattern whereby each level is connected to the next higher level in a symmetrical pattern. It connects multiple star topologies to other star topology network. Tree topology is the best when the network is large and not for a small network because it is a waste of cables to use it.

Tree topology has some features such as:

Three levels of hierarchy: In a tree topology network topology there are three levels of hierarchy and work together based on the root network.

Two types of topology: Tree topology is the combination of star and bus topology.

There are some considerations when choosing a topology which are:

Money: The user should look if the topology is costly or not.

Length of the cable needed.

Type of cable to be used in the topology.

BACKGROUND STUDY

Merits mean advantages or benefits of an object and Demerits means disadvantage or limitation of an object.

MERITS OF TREE TOPOLOGY

HIGHLY FLEXIBLE: In tree topology computers can be added by simply adding a hub in a network topology.

CENTRALISED MONITORING: It makes users to control and manage a larger network easily and also it is easy to reconfigure the tree topology.

COMPUTERS HAVE ACCESS: Because tree topology is a large network, all computers have better access to the network.

POINT-TO-POINT CONNECTION: In tree topology each computer is connected to the hub and also each part of a network is connected to the main cable.

Tree topology is supported by many hardware and software venders.

In tree topology it is easy to add a computer by simply extending using cables to connect computers.

DEMERITS OF TREE TOPOLOGY

3.2.1SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE: In tree topology, if the backbone of the entire network breaks both part of the network may not communicate to each other but a part of the network continues to communicate alone.

3.2.2 DIFFICULT TO CONFIGURE: It is difficult to configure tree topology because is a large topology and also wiring the network is difficult.

3.2.3 In tree topology, the length of the network is limited by the type of cable to be used on the network.

3.3 USAGE OF TREE TOPOLOGY

According to www.google.com, tree topology has some usage such as:

3.3.1 It is easy to identify the system in the network and also connect to a larger network.

3.3.2 To share information across a larger network.

3.3.3 Tree topology allows the users to have many servers on the network.

3.3.4 Tree topology reduces network traffic.

CONCLUSION

Tree topology is the combination of star and bus topology. This topology is best to be used on larger network. The tree topology has some advantages such as it is highly flexible, centralized monitoring and point-to-point connection and the disadvantages of this topology is that it is difficult to configure, there is a single point of failure. Tree topology is used to identify the system on the network, to share information across network and allows users to have many servers on the network. Tree topology is the best topology because the signals that are transmitted by the root nodes are received by all the computers at the same time.

APPENDIX

The figure below shows a structure of a tree topology.

The above figure indicate that if the main cable breaks the entire network would not be able to communicate to each other but a part of the network communicate and if the hub breaks in part of the network that will affect that part.

REFERENCE

Douglas.E.Comer (2006), Computer Networks and Internet, Department of Computer Science Purdue University, Westhafayette.

Tom.S.ed., 2001. Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications Tate McGraw Hill.

http://www.computerhope.com [accessed on the 10 July 2009 at 1030hrs].

http://www.google.com [accessed on the 13 July 2009 at 1234hrs]

http://www.novell.com [accessed on the 10 July 2009 at 1200hrs]