What is difference between star topology and mesh topology?

Difference between Star and Mesh Topology

NetworkMCAComputers

Both Star and Mesh are the types of network topologies which could be defined as the arrangement of a network which comprises of nodes and connecting lines via sender and receiver. On the basis of nature and characteristics of both we can distinguish between them.

Following are the important differences between Star and Mesh Topology −

Nitin Sharma

Published on 09-Jun-2020 09:10:13

Previous Page Print Page

Next Page

Advertisements

Content: Star Topology Vs Mesh Topology

1. 1. Comparison Chart
   2. Definition
   3. Key Differences
   4. Advantages
   5. Disadvantages
   6. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Definition of Star Topology

The Star topology connects all of the end devices to a common central node directly. A central controller which is connected to all the other devices through point-to-point links is called a star coupler. It does not flow the traffic between the devices instead the star coupler acts as the mediator, for employing the exchange of the data. If a device wants to communicate or send data to another device, priorly it has to send data to the central controller. Then the central controller relays the data to the intended destination.

The central controller can work in two manners:

• In the first approach, it can broadcast the frames to the central node and then central node retransmit it on all the external links so that it can reach to the final node. In this scenario, the organisation of the network nodes looks like star physically, but these are connected in a bus topology, where all the other nodes receive the transmitted data.
• The second approach includes switching and routing functions where the central star coupler behaves as a frame-switching device. In this type, the central node buffers the arriving frame then retransmit it to the destination node.

The star topology enables the high-speed data transfer especially when the central controller is utilized as a switch. Here the number of links is equal to the number of nodes. This topology is flexible and maintained efficiently, as compared to other topologies.

Definition of Mesh Topology

Mesh topology links the node in a way that each node is linked to the other node by a dedicated point-to-point link. Therefore, it creates n(n-1)/2 links to connect n number of nodes, which is a bit too much. The form of media used to link the nodes can be twisted pair, coaxial, or optical fibre cable. This type of topology does not require any additional information about the packet such as the source address or destination address because two nodes are connected directly.

The flexibility of the mesh topology is very low and has a poor scalability factor. It requires laying of the links to add a new node so that the new node could be connected to each existing node. This is the reason it is very expensive topology.

Difference between star and mesh topology:

• The star topology organizes the nodes in a star shape where the central hub is connected to all the other nodes. On the other hand, in a mesh topology, each node is connected to the other node.
• There are N links in star topology if there are N nodes, While in there are N(N-1)/2 links in mesh topology if there are N nodes.
• Star topology only uses twisted pair cable as transmission media. In a mesh, topology can employ and transmission media such as twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, or optical fiber, but it requiresmore amount of cabling.
• Mesh topology is complicated than star topology.
• Easy installation and reconfiguration are possible using star topology while mesh topology requires more transmission media, effort, and some more time for installation and reconfigurations.
• Star topology is cost-effective to some extent while the mesh is too expensive.
• The flexibility and scalability of the star topology are good whereas the mesh topology is less cable as it directly increases the cost of the system.
• The routing in the star topology is done with the help of the star coupler. While in mesh topology directly transmit the data from one node to another using a point to point link.
• The star topology has a disadvantage where the inoperative central hub can make the entire system is inoperative. On the other hand, the mesh topology is more robust than the star topology.
• Star topology is very extensible, Mesh topology is poorly extensible.
• The star topology has a drawback where the inoperative central hub can make the entire system inoperative. The mesh topology is more robust than the star topology.
• Star topology is very good extensible and can be used in LAN called local area network as set up is easy too, While in a mesh topology is poor extensible and can be used in WAN called a wide area network.
• The complexity of star topology is quite simple, The complexity of mesh topology is more complex.
• In star topology, twisted pair cable is used for connection, In a mesh topology, twisted pair cable, coaxial cable and optical cable are used for connection on the basis of the type of network.

Explore more information:

1. Difference Between Star and Ring Topology
2. Difference between star and bus topology
3. Difference between client-server and peer-peer network
4. Difference between logical and physical topology
5. Difference between LAN and WAN

Types of Topology

There are five types of topology in computer networks:

A Comparison of Mesh and Star Networks

Reference this

Share this: Facebook Facebook logo Twitter Twitter logo Reddit Reddit logo LinkedIn LinkedIn logo WhatsApp WhatsApp logo

Star networks

Any device connected to a networkis referred to as a node. All nodes are connected to the network either by wire or wirelessly.

A network's topologyis the arrangement, or pattern, in which all nodes on a network are connected together. There are several common topologies that are in use, but today the most common topologies are:

• star topologies
• mesh topologies

Star topologies are used in many networks, large and small.

In a star topology all nodes indirectly connect to each other through one or more switches. The switch acts as a central point through which all communications are passed.

Large networks using a star topology are usually controlled by one or more servers. Hence, the client-servermodel usually uses a star topology. However, peer-to-peernetworks can also have a star topology. Even though no single computer controls the network, all communications still pass through the central switch.