Last modified: Monday, August 05, 2002
A local-area network (LAN) that uses a star topology in which all nodes are connected to a central computer. The main advantages of a star network is that one malfunctioning node doesn't affect the rest of the network, and it's easy to add and remove nodes. The main disadvantage of star networks is that they require more cabling than other topologies, such as a bus or ring networks. In addition, if the central computer fails, the entire network becomes unusable. Standard twisted-pair Ethernet uses a star topology. For network diagrams, see Network Topology Diagrams in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.
	Related Categories Network Topologies Related Terms 10Base-T bus network hub local-area network logical topology physical topology topology VSAT Shopping star network Products Compare Products,Prices and Stores Shop by Category: Printers 101 Model Matches Network Adapters 4 Model Matches Serial Adapters 1 Model Matches Tools and Accessories 2 Store Offers PC Desktops 31 Model Matches