Mesh Topology

In Mesh topology, each device is connected to each other. A device can send data to all the devices in the network. Data sent by the device can take any possible paths to reach the destination.

Basic Structure of Mesh Topology

A mesh topology, every device is connected to each and every node in the network with many redundant interconnections at least two paths to and from every node. There are two types of mesh topologies, full mesh and partial mesh. In full mesh topology, each device is connected directly to each other. In partial mesh topology, some of the devices are connected to all the others, but there are some devices which do not exchange data with all. So they are connected only to those with which they communicate most of the time. It is less expensive and less redundant compared to full mesh topology. This topology is useful where connections are easily and frequently broken.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

Mesh topology is not used commonly because of its complex structure. But it performs well when the devices are spread in the network and do not lie in the same region. Wide Area network (WAN) is an example of mesh topology. It is an interconnection of multiple Local Arear networks (LANs). Thus, in Wide Area Network (WAN), multiple paths are available to reach the destination.

Advantages of mesh topology are:

• Mesh Topology provides redundant paths which help in sending data using an alternate path if a specific path fail sending the data

• Entire network does not get affected by one faulty device in a Mesh Topology.

• Centralized management is not required as in star topology

• Easy to detect the faulty device in a mesh Topology as compared to Star, Ring and Bus Topologies.

Disadvantages of mesh topology are:

• More cabling is required in Mesh topology as compared to bus, star and ring topologies

• Each link from one device to another requires an individual NIC

• Very expensive as compared to bus, star and ring topologies

• Data carrying capacity is underutilized unless all devices are transmitting almost constantly

• Difficult to reconfigure

You may also be interested in

Single Node Topology

Bus Topology

Star Topology

Ring Topology

Tree Topology vs. Hybrid Topology