WAN topology: Bus, ring, star, mesh, and tiered.

Today we will talk about wide area network topology, or WAN topology. WAN Topology means the layout of different WAN sites, or how they are connected to each other. Topology belongs to layer 1 domain of the OSI model.

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WAN Topology means the layout of different WAN sites, or how they are connected to each other. Topology belongs to layer 1 domain of the OSI model.
WAN topologies include BUS, Ring, Star, Mesh, and tiered. They are similar to LAN topologies but with some differences. WAN topologies cover a much longer distance and larger areas, with more users. The connection links are a mix of different technologies: s T1, or T3, DSL, and many others.
In BUS topology, each site is connected to no more than two other locations in a serial fashion.
In ring topology, each site is connected to two other sites so that the entire WAN forms a ring pattern.
In Star topology, a single site acts as the central connection point for several other sites. This arrangement provides separate routes for data between any two sites; however, if the central connection point fails, the entire WAN fails.
In mesh topology, several sites are directly interconnected. Mesh WANs are highly fault tolerant because they provide multiple routes for data to follow between any two sites.
There are two types of mesh topologies:
In full-mesh WAN, every site is directly connected to every other site. Full-mesh WAN is the most fault-tolerant type of WAN.
In partial-mesh WAN, only critical sites are directly interconnected and secondary sites are connected through star or ring topologies.
Last but not least, tiered topology.
In tiered topology, sites in star or ring formations are interconnected at different levels, with the interconnection points being organized into layers to form hierarchical groupings.