TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of a bus topology?

1. Each device connects to a single central cable

2. All nodes have equal access to the network

3. It allows for easy scalability

4. Every device can communicate directly with every other device

The correct answer is: Each device connects to a single central cable

A bus topology is characterized by all devices being connected to a single central cable, known as the bus. This central cable serves as the backbone of the network, allowing data to be sent back and forth between the devices. In this configuration, data travels along the bus until it reaches the intended recipient. The description of devices connecting to a single central cable accurately captures the essence of a bus topology. This means that communication between devices happens in a linear fashion along the bus, which can lead to simplicity in design. While the other characteristics mentioned may be associated with different types of network topologies, they don't accurately describe a bus topology. For example, in terms of equal access, all devices can share the bus but must also contend for the same bandwidth, which can lead to collisions and is not as efficient as some other topologies. Scalability is also a concern in bus topologies; adding new devices can complicate the network and lead to degradation in performance. Communication between devices is thus inherently linear and reliant on the bus, rather than direct communication between each device.