Topologies - Word Drop

The ______ of a network is the layout of its nodes and the connections between them. In a bus topology, every node shares a single central ______ cable. At each end of the bus, ______ absorb signals so they do not reflect back. A bus needs less cable, so it is cheap to install, and extra devices are easy to add. However, data ______ increase as more nodes share the cable, and every node can see all the data, which is a security risk. If the cable is damaged, the whole network fails.

In a star topology, every node has its own cable to a central ______, which sends data only to the destination node. Data transfer is fast because the cables are not shared. If one cable breaks, the other nodes are ______, but if the central switch fails the whole network goes down. A star also needs extra hardware, such as cables and the switch.

In a mesh topology, nodes act as ______ to relay data along different paths. A ______ mesh, in which some nodes connect to several others, is often used. Mesh networks are resilient because there is no single point of ______. Nodes can also send data at the same time, that is, ______. However, a wired mesh is expensive to install, and ______ is difficult because there are many connections to look after.