What is the primary advantage of a mesh network topology?
- Reduces cable requirements
- Provides redundant paths and high fault tolerance ✓
- Simplifies network management
- Increases transmission speed
Correct answer: Provides redundant paths and high fault tolerance
Option B is correct because a full-mesh topology connects every node directly to every other node, creating multiple redundant paths between any two nodes so that the failure of any single link or node does not disrupt communication across the network, yielding very high fault tolerance. Option A is incorrect because mesh topologies actually require a large number of cables or connections, making them one of the most cabling-intensive topologies, not the least. Option C is incorrect because the high number of connections in a mesh network increases management complexity, as each link must be monitored and maintained individually. Option D is incorrect because mesh topologies do not inherently increase transmission speed; the speed depends on the underlying media and hardware, not the topology itself.
Topic: · network topology, mesh network, fault tolerance, redundancy