1.6a - Network Topologies (Prof. Messer)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering various network topologies such as star, mesh, hybrid, spine and leaf, and point-to-point based on the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 lecture.

Star Network

A network topology, also known as hub-and-spoke, where a central device acts as the primary networking component and all other devices connect directly to it.

Mesh Network

A design where a location or device connects to another over more than one network connection, providing redundancy and supporting load balancing.

Hybrid Network

A network architecture created by combining multiple different topologies, such as star, mesh, and point-to-point, within the same enterprise network.

Spine and Leaf

A data center architecture where spine switches at the top connect to all leaf switches, and leaf switches connect to all spines, but switches of the same layer do not connect to each other.

Top-of-rack switching

A data center configuration where each physical rack contains a leaf switch at the top to which all devices in that rack connect, keeping cabling self-contained.

Point-to-Point

A network connection that links a single point to another single point, commonly used in older WAN connections like T1 or T3 and between campus buildings.

Hub-and-spoke

An alternative term for a star network topology where a central hub facilitates all communication between connected devices or spokes.

Redundancy

The benefit of a mesh network design that allows communication to continue via an alternate path if one link in the mesh fails.

Load Balancing

A technique used in mesh networks where data is distributed across multiple links, such as sending half of the data over one connection and the other half over a different one.

Switched Ethernet

A common example of a star network where an Ethernet switch serves as the central hub for all other connected devices.