Section 23.11: Wide Area Network topologies (Frame 6)                     [prev][home][next]

Partitions in a fully connected network are impossible unless every wire attached to a given host is broken.

Since fully connected networks are too expensive, some middle ground is sought where there are multiple paths between any two hosts in order to prevent partitions. The general term for this type of topology is mesh since it is like a mesh or net that traps things (fish, lint, debris, you name it.) Fig. 23.11.5 shows a mesh network. Every host has at least two connections to other hosts and some have more. We say that a mesh network gives higher connectivity than a simple chain or a token ring because each host connects to several other hosts in such a way that a partition is unlikely.


Fig. 23.11.5: Mesh network