Define the term topology. What are the popular network topologies?
Topology refers to the arrangement of computers and other peripherals in a network. It describes the physical or logical layout of how devices are connected and communicate within the network.
The popular network topologies are Mesh, Ring, Bus, Star, and Tree. In Mesh topology, each device connects with every other device. Ring topology connects each node to two other devices. Bus topology uses a single backbone wire shared among nodes. Star topology connects devices to a central device, while Tree topology involves multiple branches with basic topologies.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the textbook definitions provided in the context. The first paragraph defines topology based on the text 'The arrangement of computers and other peripherals in a network is called its topology.' The second paragraph lists the five common topologies mentioned ('Mesh, Ring, Bus, Star and Tree') and briefly describes each using the specific details found in the context chunks (e.g., Mesh connecting every device, Ring connecting to two others, Bus using a backbone, etc.) to provide a comprehensive 2-mark answer.