Overview
The star topology is the most common arrangement for modern Ethernet LANs. All traffic from one node to another must pass through the central device.
Advantages
- Easy to Manage: Simple to add or remove devices.
- Isolation: If one cable or node fails, the rest of the network is unaffected.
- Centralized Control: Easy to monitor and troubleshoot from the central switch.
Disadvantages
- Single Point of Failure: If the central switch fails, the entire network goes down.
- Cost: Requires more cabling than a bus topology.