Network Programming with GO: Chapter 1

Overview of Network Systems

Choosing a Network Topology

When designing a network, selecting the appropriate topology is crucial for ensuring efficient communication and resource sharing among devices. Common topologies include:

• Point-to-Point: Direct connection between two devices. This type of connection is uncommon.

• Daisy Chain: A series of point-to-point connections where each device is connected to two others, forming a chain. Intermediate nodes between the origin and the destination are called "hops." Unlikely to encounter this topology in modern networks.

• Bus: Nodes share a common communication line. Wired bus networks are rare today, but the concept is still relevant in wireless networks where devices share a common frequency. The nodes on a wired network see all the traffic, but only the intended recipient processes the data. Although wireless clients can see each other's traffic, traffic is typically encrypted, so only the intended recipient can read it.

• Ring: A closed loop where each device is connected to two others. Data travels in one direction around the ring. Because of the design, the slowest device determines the overall speed of the network.

• Star: a central node has individual point-to-point connections to all other nodes. Common in wired networks. The central node is often a network switch that accepts data from one device and forwards it to the intended recipient.

• Mesh: Every device has a point-to-point connection to every other device. This topology provides high redundancy and reliability, as multiple paths exist for data to travel between devices. However, it is expensive and complex to implement.

• Hybrid: A combination of two or more different topologies. For example, a star-bus topology combines the star and bus topologies, where multiple star networks are connected via a bus.