There has always been the use of chaining together different machines but there has always been the question of how they are used. For a network they are used by using a line or topology to connect all depending on where you are working there are a number of different kinds of topology such as bus, star and mesh but there are 3 that are more commonly used such as a hierarchical star, bus and ring network topology. The hierarchical star is like a regular star topology except that there are multiple server box’s and also uses switches to help maintain the string of the multiple connections. Whenever there is a failure in the cables unlike the regular stars that would hierarchical stars would not show complete failure in the connection. If the one connection severed only the host CPU will be affected and because some use switches the problem can be fixed quickly and easily. Unlike the star if another topology the bus topology is used the most by small business. Most schools and even in homes at times. The bus is exactly as it sounds it is just one connection connected to multiple CPU’s, Printer’s, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and other devices. The main difference between stars and busses there is only one connection between all of the machines that are able to be connected to the line. If the connection was disrupted the communication between devices will be lost, and the only way to get it back is to find another connection wire. The bus will need a termination box at each end of the line or there will be an open circuit and will not allow the network do its job. This one is strong since there is always an easy fix to whenever the problem appears it can only ever be one thing. The last topology is the ring topology. The ring behaves much like a Bus except instead of needing a terminal at the end of the line. All it does is go full circle and end at another CPU. A lot like the star it can use a switch but does not always do not require a switch nor is it absolutely necessary. The ring is just like the bus in a sense that it also only uses one cable to connect all hosts together. The only difference is that it is used to hold more host’s than other machines such as printers, DHCP, etc…. The only problem is the same as the bus if the one connection fails then the whole network stops working but it is also an easy fix since all it takes is one new cable. Even though there are ways of putting together a successful network these are the main ones used in homes, schools and computer labs. These can be easily set up with the help of the right technicians.