What Is A Mesh Topology?

Date First Published: 24th May 2022

Topic: Computer Networking

Subtopic: Network Setups

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty Level: 5/10

Learn more about what a mesh topology is in this article.

A mesh topology, also known as a mesh network, is a type of network topology where each node connects to every other node and can send messages to and receive messages from other nodes. It is a network setup where there is no central connection point. Instead, each network device is interconnected to the other and to usually more than one. There are two types of mesh topologies, which include full and partial. The connections in a full mesh or partial mesh topology can be wired or wireless.

Note:

Wired mesh networks are less common because the number of cables required to connect all the nodes to each other results in high costs. Wireless mesh networks are often used as it is cheaper and simpler to connect nodes to each other using radio signals.

Full Mesh Topology

In a full mesh topology, each node is directly interconnected to the other, enabling a message to be sent across different routes. Full mesh topologies provide more redundancy and unnecessary links. They are mostly used in network backbones due to their high costs of implementation.

Partial Mesh Topology

In a partial mesh topology, the nodes are connected in the same way as in a mesh topology, but not all of them are directly interconnected to the other. This allows for fewer routes for a message to travel along than a full mesh topology. Overall, it is simpler to implement than a full mesh topology and is more practical.

Routing and Flooding Techniques

Nodes have routing logic which sends the data to the destination within the shortest distance. It also informs of any broken links in order for the network to avoid those nodes and helps to reconfigure itself if a path is broken.

Nodes also have flooding techniques, which rely on sending data from one node to the rest of the network. Data is sent to a part of the nodes because not all of the nodes may be available at the same time. In order to maximise the amount of data travelling through, a protocol chooses the senders every time data is sent.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Mesh Topology

• If one node fails or disconnects, it will have no effect on the whole network or the transmission of data.
• It is easier for messages to get through as there are a lot of possible routes to travel.
• Additional nodes can be added without causing disruption in the network.
• Multiple devices can send data at the same time, making it suitable for managing high amounts of traffic.

• They are less practical to set up than other network topologies due to the high number of connections required and much more maintenance.
• There are high costs of implementing a mesh topology.
• It uses more expensive hardware to connect every node to each other.
• There is a high possibility of redundant links in network connections, making some connections unnecessary. This usually occurs if there are better routes to connect nodes to each other.