Bus Topology

Advantages

It is easy to set up, handle, and implement.

It is best-suited for small networks.

It costs very less.

Disadvantages

The cable length is limited. This limits the number of network nodes that can be connected.

This network topology can perform well only for a limited number of nodes. When the number of devices connected to the bus increases, the efficiency decreases.

It is suitable for networks with low traffic.

It is heavily dependent on the central bus. A fault in the bus leads to network failure.

It is not easy to isolate faults in the network nodes.

Ring Topology

Advantages

The data being transmitted between two nodes passes through all the intermediate nodes. A central server is not required for the management of this topology.

The traffic is unidirectional and the data transmission is high-speed.

In comparison to a bus, a ring is better at handling load.

The adding or removing of network nodes is easy, as the process requires changing only two connections.

The configuration makes it easy to identify faults in network nodes.

Disadvantages

The failure of a single node in the network can cause the entire network to fail.

The movement or changes made to network nodes affect the entire network's performance.

Data sent from one node to another has to pass through all the intermediate nodes.

There is heavy dependency on the wire connecting the network nodes in the ring.

Mesh Topology

Advantages

The arrangement of the network nodes is such that it is possible to transmit data from one node to many other nodes at the same time.

The failure of a single node does not cause the entire network to fail as there are alternate paths for data transmission.

It can handle heavy traffic, as there are dedicated paths between any two network nodes.

Point-to-point contact between every pair of nodes, makes it easy to identify faults.

Disadvantages

The arrangement wherein every network node is connected to every other node of the network, many connections serve no major purpose.

A lot of cabling is required. Thus, the costs incurred in setup and maintenance are high.

Owing to its complexity, the administration of a mesh network is difficult.

Star Topology

Advantages

Due to its centralized nature, the topology offers simplicity of operation.

It also achieves isolation of each device in the network.

Adding or removing network nodes is easy, and can be done without affecting the entire network.

Due to the centralized nature, it is easy to detect faults in the network devices.

As the analysis of traffic is easy, the topology poses lesser security risk.

Disadvantages

Network operation depends on the functioning of the central hub. Hence, central hub failure leads to failure of the entire network.

Also, the number of nodes that can be added, depends on the capacity of the central hub.
The setup cost is quite high.