What is Hybrid Topology ?
Hybrid topology is nothing but the combination of several topologies which results in strongest characteristics of different topologies together. For more needs, more topologies can be added. For an example, if there are star and bus topologies both of them can be combined together to produce a hybrid topology.
When is Hybrid Topology used ?
It is especially preferred in situations where different topologies are available and those must be combined together. Large companies and organizations are especially benefited from this different approach. Even though hybrid topology offers many positives for a network, it aren't flawless. When implementing a networking system, it is compulsory to analyze its pros and cons so that users could decide whether this topology will be useful.
In this article, I will be covering about 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology | Drawbacks & Benefits of Hybrid Topology. Through this post, you will know the pros and cons of using hybrid topology.
Let's get started,
Advantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Scalability
Generally, due to its structure, hybrid topology is made scalable. Users can easily add networks and hardware components without causing any disturbances. That is the reason why hybrid topology is mostly preferred in the networking field.
2. Flexibility
Compared to other topology models, a hybrid topology is extremely flexible. It is not just created to be suited for one single organization. The resources in hybrid network is maximized so that it can be available for different networking environments.
3. Effectiveness
As mentioned earlier hybrid topology is a combination of different topologies. From this type of structure, the users are benefited only from the strengths of every single topology. All the weaknesses are just eliminated here.
4. Reliability
The entire network of hybrid topology is highly reliable. In case of a failure, there are many sub networks in this topology that makes sure that the malfunctioning of one node will not impact the other. The network can still continue to function.
5. Troubleshooting
When using hybrid topology, it is easy to troubleshoot and fix errors in the network. If there is a part that starts malfunctioning, that specific part can be isolated without causing any disruptions to the network. Even sometimes the users doesn't realize if the network got a problem.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology
1. Cost
Hybrid topology is usually a expensive strategy. What makes this model more expensive is the cost of hub. The network hubs used in this topology is different from what it is used in others. It should be able to corporate with all the topologies. And also in case of a failure, it must continue to operate. Therefore, it is not a option preferred when implementing small networks in homes or offices.
2. Maintenance
Due to its complex nature, hybrid topologies are made difficult to manage. Especially in the long run. This cannot be achieved without hiring a professional. In addition to that, since there are more devices and network, the overall maintenance costs are significantly higher.
3. Cable Failure
The backbone cable is the main functionality unit of a hybrid topology network. It makes sure that all of the connected topologies functions properly. Hence, any damages to the cable definitely affects the entire network.
4. Complexity
Hybrid topology involved numerous other topologies which makes its design more complex. It is a difficult task for the network technicians to design and build this network. This also makes network processing a complicated process.
5. Faulty devices
Even though troubleshooting errors is made easy in hybrid topology, it is not the same when it comes to bypassing faulty devices. For bypassing faulty devices, it needs separate multi-station access units. This essentially means that the network is getting further complicated.
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