Networks Defined by Topology

In addition to classifying networks based on the geographical placement of their components, another approach to classifying a network is to use the network’s topology. Looks can be deceiving, however. You need to be able to distinguish between a physical topology and a logical topology.

Physical Versus Logical Topology

Just because a network appears to be a star topology (that is, where the network components all connect back to a centralized device, such as a switch), the traffic might be flowing in a circular pattern through all the network components attached to the centralized device. The actual traffic flow determines the logical topology, while how components are physically interconnected determines the physical topology.