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Star Topology
Last Updated: July 19, 2017
Definition - What does Star Topology mean?
Star topology is a network topology where each individual piece of a network is attached to a central node (often called a hub or switch). The attachment of these network pieces to the central component is visually represented in a form similar to a star.
Star topology is also known as a star network.
Techopedia explains Star Topology
Star topologies are either active or passive networks, depending on the following:
- If the central node performs processes, such as data amplification or regeneration
- If the network actively controls data transit
- If the network requires electrical power sources.
Star topologies also may be implemented with Ethernet/cabled structures, wireless routers and/or other components. In many cases, the central hub is the server, and the additional nodes are clients.
Benefits of a star network topology include the following:
- Has the ability to limit the impact of a single failure. In star networks, a single unit is isolated by its relationship to the central hub, so that if a component goes down, it only affects that unit's local reach.
- Facilitates adding or removing individual components to and from a network, for the same reasons.
