What are the different types of network topologies you've worked with, and what are their advantages?

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There are several different types of network topologies, each having advantages and disadvantages. Being familiar with these and knowing when they should be used is important when interviewing for a network engineering position. During the interview with this organization, you're likely to be asked several of these types of questions. This is because they demonstrate your expertise in this area and your knowledge of network-related topics. Therefore, it is advisable to review networking terminology, processes, and topics before the interview, so these are fresh in your mind.

"I assume by network topology, you mean the physical or logical way in which the devices of a network are arranged. The physical topology describes the location of each device on the network, while the logical topology is how the information flows between the devices. There are four types of topologies: bus, star, ring and mesh. A bus topology connects all the devices along a single cable. This is the least complicated layout. A star topology contains a central hub that connects to each device. This requires each device to communicate with the hub to send information to another device. This is a more reliable network because the failure of one link won't impact the others. In a ring topology, each device connects to two others. Data flows unidirectionally in this configuration. While it's easy to install and expand, it's vulnerable to a network outage if one link fails. The final topology is the mesh, in which all the devices are connected to each other. This is the most complex configuration, but also the most reliable."

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How to Answer: What are the different types of network topologies you've worked with, and what are their advantages?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Network Engineer job interview.

27. What are the different types of network topologies you've worked with, and what are their advantages?

How to Answer

There are several different types of network topologies, each having advantages and disadvantages. Being familiar with these and knowing when they should be used is important when interviewing for a network engineering position. During the interview with this organization, you're likely to be asked several of these types of questions. This is because they demonstrate your expertise in this area and your knowledge of network-related topics. Therefore, it is advisable to review networking terminology, processes, and topics before the interview, so these are fresh in your mind.

Written by William Swansen on September 13th, 2021

Answer Example

"I assume by network topology, you mean the physical or logical way in which the devices of a network are arranged. The physical topology describes the location of each device on the network, while the logical topology is how the information flows between the devices. There are four types of topologies: bus, star, ring and mesh. A bus topology connects all the devices along a single cable. This is the least complicated layout. A star topology contains a central hub that connects to each device. This requires each device to communicate with the hub to send information to another device. This is a more reliable network because the failure of one link won't impact the others. In a ring topology, each device connects to two others. Data flows unidirectionally in this configuration. While it's easy to install and expand, it's vulnerable to a network outage if one link fails. The final topology is the mesh, in which all the devices are connected to each other. This is the most complex configuration, but also the most reliable."

Written by William Swansen on September 13th, 2021

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