| Topology | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Bus Topology | Uses the least amount of cable. Media is inexpensive, simple and reliable. Is easy to extend. | Hardware bugs are difficult to isolate. Does not adequately support large number of I/O requests from users. Cable break can affect many users. |
Ring Topology | Networks can cover greater distances. Performance is even despite many users. | Expanding the system can be costly. Network reconfiguration disrupts operation. |
Star Topology | New computers can be easily added. Cable layouts are easy to modify. Failure of one computer does not affect the rest of the network. | Uses a large amount of cable. If the centralized point fails, the network fails. |
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Standard Topologies