Basic Structure of Tree Topology and Advantage and Disadvantage

Basic Structure of Tree Topology

A tree topology connects multiple star networks. According to the structure of star topology, all devices are connected to a central hub. There are multiple such hub devices which are connected directly to a tree bus. Thus, the hub is used as the root of the tree for number of devices. Tree networks thus may have branches that contain multiple devices connected point-to-point. Signal from transmitting device first reaches the hub to which it is connected. Hub then directs this signal to tree bus which then travels along the entire network. Figure shows the basic structure of tree topology.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tree Topology

Tree topology supports further expandability of the network as compared to bus and star topologies. In a bus topology, the number of devices is limited due to the broadcast traffic t generates. In star topology, the expansion of network is limited by the number of hub ports.

Advantages of tree topology are:

• Point-to-point wiring for each device
• Easy to detect a faulty device
• Easy to expand a network

Disadvantages of tree topology are:

• More difficult to configure as compared to other topologies
• Fault in the backbone affects the entire network
• More expensive than other topologies
• Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling used