A hybrid topology, as the name suggests, is an interconnection of two or more networks. The component networks may be ring, star, tree, mesh or any other, depending upon the requirement of a firm or institution. For example, in an institution, if there is a ring topology in one department, bus topology in the next department, star topology in another department and so on, all the departments can connect to each other through a bus topology that connects the ring, bus and star topologies of each department to each other. Such a topology that consists of more than one type of individual topologies is known as hybrid topology.

Hybrid topology

Advantages of hybrid topology

• The benefits of several different types of topologies can be combined into one.

Disadvantages of hybrid topology

• Comparatively expensive than other topologies.

A mesh topology is a computer network in which every node has a dedicated point-to-point connection to every other node in the network. A mesh topology has n*(n-1)/2 routes that connect 'n' devices in the network. Mesh topology work on the concept of routes. Message that is to be delivered to the destination can take any possible shortest and easiest routes that it can find.

Mesh Topology

Advantages of Mesh topology

• As it has multiple routes between the source and the destination, if one route fails, there would be a number of other routes through which data transfer can take place.
• Traffic problem is minimized in this topology.
• Troubleshooting is easier compared to other networks like star and ring.
• Heavy load of data transfer has little impact on the performance of this topology.
• This network can be easily expanded without affecting the existing users.

Disadvantages of Mesh topology

• It is expensive as it requires more cable than other topologies.
• Installation is difficult and complicated.

A tree topology consists of bus and star topologies framed in a common network. The tree like structure of this network allows the colleges, schools, universities and other institutions to maintain their own network as a branch of a bigger network through which they can maximize their area of access to the network. This type of network topology is most suitable for such networks which are widely spread and divided into many branches.
On tree topology the hubs of each smaller topologies are connected to the central hub that controls the entire network. However, some nodes can be directly connected to the central hub.

Tree topology

Advantages of tree topology

• It is possible to form a point to point connection with tree topology.
• All the computers can access other computers which are in other larger and immediate networks.
• Tree topology is best suited for branched out networks.

Disadvantages of tree topology

• In this topology, the length of the network depends on the type of cable utilized to form the network.
• The entire tree topology would fail if the central trunk fails as it forms the backbone of the network.
• The tree topology is comparatively more complex than the bus and star topologies. If it gets bigger, it would be difficult to configure and manage it.
• It is expensive as more hubs and cables are required to install the network.