What are Differences Between Star and Mesh Network Topologies?

Answer 1

mesh topology typically refers to a Wide Area Network where there are multiple paths connecting multiple sites. A router is used to search multiple paths and determine the best path for the data. Routes are determined by least cost, time of day and performance. A three or four site mesh network is relatively easy to create, whereas it is impractical to set up a mesh network of 100 sites or nodes. Mesh networks are used in Wide Area Networks (WANs) where reliability is important and the number of sites being connected together is fairly small.

A mesh network is costly to reconfigure, replace and administer. A mesh is best suited for situations where it will not need to be moved or expanded beyond five sites or nodes. If one site fails, an entire application can fail.

Also known as a star network, a star topology is one of the most common network setups where each of the devices and computers on a network connect to a central hub. A major disadvantage of this type of network topology is that if the central hub fails, all computers connected to that hub would be disconnected. Below is a visual example of a simple computer setup on a network using the star topology.

Answer 2

Star network: All devices are connected to a central hub or switch, and communication flows through this central point. It provides centralized management but can lead to network traffic congestion if many devices need to communicate through the central hub.

Mesh network: Devices are interconnected with each other, allowing multiple paths for data to travel. It offers redundancy and self-healing capabilities, as if one device fails, data can still be rerouted through other devices. However, it can be more complex and costly to deploy compared to star networks.