NETWORK CONCEPT	ARCHITECTURE	TOPOLOGY

Network topology is the arrangement of the various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a communication network.

Network topology is the topological structure of a network and may be depicted physically or logically. Physical topology

is the placement of the various components of a network, including device location and cable installation, while logical

topology illustrates how data flows within a network. Distances between nodes, physical interconnections, transmission rates,

or signal types may differ between two networks, yet their topologies may be identical.

An example is a local area network (LAN). Any given node in the LAN has one or more physical links to other devices in the

network; graphically mapping these links results in a geometric shape that can be used to describe the physical topology

of the network. Conversely, mapping the data flow between the components determines the logical topology of the network.

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