Network Topology What is Network Topology?
What is Network Topology?
Network topology is usually represented by a line and object drawing that reflects the overall physical and logical topology.
There are two different types of network topologies:
- Physical network topology is the placement of various components of a network. The different connectors represent the physical network cables, and the nodes represent the physical network devices (like switches).
- Logical network topology illustrates, at a higher level, how data flows within a network.
- Network discovery tools
- Discover a layer 2 network topology
- Discover a layer 3 network topology
- Discover a virtual network topology
- Discover a wireless network topology
- Network topology vs. network flows
Network discovery tools
Different tools can automatically build a network topology map of a layer 2 and/or layer 3 network. Also, most monitoring tools that use SNMP or other remote monitoring protocols can provide a network map.
