Which of the following network topology uses a central cable (backbone) to connect all devices ? (A) Mesh (B)

Question

Q. Which of the following network topology uses a central cable (backbone) to connect all devices ? (A) Mesh (B) Star (C) Tree (D) Bus

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Concept understanding — Bus Topology

Imagine a single, long corridor in a large office building. Every department — Accounts, Marketing, HR — has its door opening directly onto that one corridor. If the CEO wants to send a memo, she pins it on a noticeboard at one end of the corridor. Everyone who walks past can read it, but only the person it is addressed to is supposed to take it down.

That corridor is the bus. The doors are the nodes (computers or devices). The noticeboard is the data packet.

In computer networking, Bus Topology is a network layout where all devices are connected to a single central cable, called the backbone or bus. Every message sent by any device travels along this entire cable, and every other device on the network "sees" it. Only the device whose address matches the destination address in the message actually accepts and processes it; the rest ignore it.

Note

Think of a bus route. The bus (the data) travels along a fixed road (the cable). People (data packets) get on and off at stops (nodes) along the way, but the bus itself never leaves that single road.

How it works in practice

When Computer A wants to send a file to Computer D, it places the data onto the bus cable. That electrical signal (or light pulse, in fibre-optic versions) travels in both directions along the entire length of the cable. Every computer on the bus checks the destination address in the data packet. Computers B, C, and E see it's not for them and ignore it. Computer D recognises its own address, copies the data, and the transmission is complete.

The cable itself is a shared resource. Only one device can transmit at a time. If two devices try to send data simultaneously, their signals collide, corrupting both messages. The network then uses a system (like Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection, or CSMA/CD) to wait a random amount of time and retry.

Why it matters (advantages)

Simple and cheap: It uses the least amount of cable compared to other topologies (like star or mesh). For a small office or a temporary setup, it is the most cost-effective way to connect a few computers.
Easy to extend: Adding a new computer is straightforward — just tap into the bus cable. No complex rewiring is needed.
Works well for small networks: In a room with 5–10 computers, bus topology is perfectly functional and easy to manage.

The catch (disadvantages)

Single point of failure: The entire network dies if the main bus cable breaks or develops a fault. A single cut anywhere along the backbone brings down every connected device. There is no redundancy.
Troubleshooting is hard: Finding a fault in a bus topology is difficult because the problem could be anywhere along the cable. You often have to check every connection point. …

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The Bus topology uses a single central cable, often called a backbone, to which all network devices are directly connected.

Understanding how devices in a network communicate begins with grasping the concept of network topology. Topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of connections between nodes (devices) in a network. It dictates how data flows and how resilient the network is to failures. Different topologies offer distinct advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, performance, and reliability.

Among the various ways to arrange network devices, one common method involves a single, continuous cable acting as the primary communication channel. This design is known as the Bus topology.

In a Bus topology, all computers and peripheral devices are connected to a single, shared communication line, which is often referred to as the 'backbone' or 'trunk' cable. Imagine a main road, and all houses (devices) are directly connected to this one road. Data sent from any device travels along this backbone cable in both directions until it reaches its intended destination.

Here are the key characteristics and implications of a Bus topology:

Central Backbone: The defining feature is the single cable that runs across the network. All devices attach to this cable using connectors, often T-connectors, which tap into the main line.
Data Transmission: When a device sends data, it broadcasts the data packet onto the backbone. All other devices on the bus receive this packet, but only the intended recipient processes it.
Terminators: To prevent the signal from bouncing back and causing interference, terminators are placed at both ends of the backbone cable. These absorb the signal once it reaches the end of the line.
Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness: For small networks, the Bus topology is relatively simple to install and requires less cabling compared to some other topologies, making it cost-effective.

Watch out

A significant drawback of the Bus topology is its vulnerability. If the central backbone cable fails or is damaged at any point, the entire network segment connected to that bus will cease to function. This makes troubleshooting difficult, as identifying the exact point of failure on a long cable can be challenging.

Let's briefly consider why the other options are not the answer: …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set 90/1/11 markMCQ
$Q. Which of the following network topology uses a central cable (backbone) to connect all devices ? (A) Mesh (B) Star (C) Tree (D) Bus$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Bus topology uses a single central cable, often called a backbone, to which all network devices are directly connected.

Understanding how devices in a network communicate begins with grasping the concept of network topology. Topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of connections between nodes (devices) in a network. It dictates how data flows and how resilient the network is to failures. Different topologies offer distinct advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, performance, and reliability.

Among the various ways to arrange network devices, one common method involves a single, continuous cable acting as the primary communication channel. This design is known as the Bus topology.

In a Bus topology, all computers and peripheral devices are connected to a single, shared communication line, which is often referred to as the 'backbone' or 'trunk' cable. Imagine a main road, and all houses (devices) are directly connected to this one road. Data sent from any device travels along this backbone cable in both directions until it reaches its intended destination.

Here are the key characteristics and implications of a Bus topology:

Central Backbone: The defining feature is the single cable that runs across the network. All devices attach to this cable using connectors, often T-connectors, which tap into the main line.

Data Transmission: When a device sends data, it broadcasts the data packet onto the backbone. All other devices on the bus receive this packet, but only the intended recipient processes it.

Terminators: To prevent the signal from bouncing back and causing interference, terminators are placed at both ends of the backbone cable. These absorb the signal once it reaches the end of the line.

Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness: For small networks, the Bus topology is relatively simple to install and requires less cabling compared to some other topologies, making it cost-effective.

Watch out

A significant drawback of the Bus topology is its vulnerability. If the central backbone cable fails or is damaged at any point, the entire network segment connected to that bus will cease to function. This makes troubleshooting difficult, as identifying the exact point of failure on a long cable can be challenging.

Let's briefly consider why the other options are not the answer: …
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CBSE 2023Set 90/1/11 markMCQ
$Q. Which of the following topologies is very efficient and all nodes are connected to a central hub? (A) Star (B) Tree (C) Bus (D) Ring$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Star topology is characterized by all nodes connecting to a central hub or switch, making it very efficient for data management and fault isolation.

In the realm of computer networks, a topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of connected devices (nodes) within a network. It dictates how devices are interconnected and how data flows between them. Understanding different topologies is crucial because each has distinct advantages and disadvantages concerning cost, reliability, performance, and ease of installation and management.

Let's consider the options presented to understand their characteristics.

The Bus topology is one of the simplest network arrangements. In this setup, all devices are connected to a single, common communication line, often called a backbone cable. Data transmitted by any device travels along this shared cable, and all other devices on the bus can "see" it, though only the intended recipient processes it. While straightforward to implement for small networks, a significant drawback is that a break in the main cable can bring down the entire network. Furthermore, as more devices are added, network performance can degrade due to increased traffic and potential data collisions on the shared medium.

The Ring topology arranges devices in a circular fashion. Each device is connected to exactly two other devices, forming a single, continuous pathway for data. Data typically travels in one direction around the ring, passing through each device until it reaches its destination. This setup can be efficient for certain types of traffic, but a major vulnerability is that the failure of a single device or cable segment can disrupt the entire ring. Adding or removing devices also requires temporarily breaking the ring, which can interrupt network operations.

The Tree topology, sometimes referred to as a hierarchical topology, is essentially a combination of Bus and Star topologies. It features a central "root" node, and all other nodes are connected to it in a hierarchical fashion, forming a tree-like structure. This often involves multiple Star networks connected to a central Bus backbone. While it offers good scalability and allows for easy expansion, a failure in the main backbone cable can still affect large portions of the network.

Now, let's turn our attention to the Star topology. This is a widely used and highly effective network arrangement where every device in the network is connected individually to a central device, such as a hub or a switch. Imagine spokes radiating from the hub of a wheel – each spoke represents a connection from a device to the central hub.

Important

In a Star topology, the central device (hub or switch) acts as a central point of connection, through which all data must pass.

The Star topology offers several significant advantages that contribute to its efficiency:

Centralized Management: All network traffic passes through the central device, making it easier to monitor and manage the network. …
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Q.Which of the following network topology uses a central cable (backbone) to connect all devices ? (A) Mesh (B) Star (C) Tree (D) Bus

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