Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingNetworking FundamentalsMedium
A network engineer is designing a network for a new branch office. The office requires high availability and needs to minimize downtime in case of a single point of failure in the network infrastructure. Which network topology would best address this requirement by providing multiple paths between devices?
- ARing
- BMesh
- CBus
- DStar
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Mesh
A mesh topology provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance because every device is connected to every other device, creating multiple paths for data. If one path fails, data can be rerouted through another, minimizing downtime.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Ring topology can offer some redundancy (e.g., dual rings), but a full mesh offers superior fault tolerance due to more direct paths.
- C. Bus topology has a single point of failure (the bus) and no redundancy.
- D. Star topology is centrally dependent on the hub/switch; its failure brings down the entire network segment.
Mesh Topology
A mesh topology is a network arrangement where every device is interconnected with every other device. This creates multiple paths for data, providing high redundancy and fault tolerance, but it can be complex and expensive to implement.
- Every device connects to every other device.
- Offers maximum redundancy and fault tolerance.
- High cost and complexity due to many connections.
- Common in backbone networks or critical systems.
Memory trick: Mesh's many paths make it a 'Most' reliable choice.