Specifications

Ring Topology
Bus.
A bus topology consists
of one continuous cable,
commonly called the backbone
cable. Devices are connected
along that cable, and informa-
tion travels in a linear fashion
along the entire length of the
bus. Devices can be removed
from the bus without disrupting
the entire network. The original
Ethernet topology was a bus.
There are three basic network topologies: star, ring, and bus.
Star.
The star network features individual point-to-point cable runs
radiating from a central equipment room, which can house a PBX
in voice networks or switches in data networks. The advantage of
a star network is that you can connect and disconnect equipment
without disrupting the rest of the network. The star network
facilitates smooth moves, adds, and changes. 10BASE-T and
later versions of Ethernet use a star topology.
The TIA/EIA makes a few design recommendations for
star topologies.
• There shall be no more than two hierarchical levels
of backbone cross-connects.
• Bridged taps and splices shall not be installed.
• Proximity to sources of EMI shall be taken into account.
• Grounding should meet J-STD-607-A requirements.
NOTE: The TIA/EIA has two basic categories of recommendations:
mandatory and advisory. Mandatory criteria are designated by the
word “shall.“ So if you see the word shall, pay attention. Advisory
criteria are recommended, but not absolutely necessary.
Ring.
A ring topology links a series of devices in a continuous loop.
A ring is a simple network, but it has a few disadvantages. All the
signals are passed from one device to the next until they reach the
intended station.
5
724-746-5500 • blackbox.com
Networking
Bus Topology
Star Topology
Network topologies