Re: Topology or Topography?

["Walker, Arlen P" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>]

     I know when I taught a networking class, we used the term topology
     when we were talking about a network's structure: how it was
     arranged, particularly. For example, computers that are hooked
     together in a line are in a linear bus topology, and if they're all
     hooked invididually to a hub, that's  star topology.  That's the
     Microsoft recommendation in their _Networking Essentials_ book. I
     think the difference would be that topology is the study of a place
     (or a physical arrangement) while topography is *describing* that
     place or arrangement.

As might be suspected, the computer use of the word topology comes from the
mathematical term. A network map is a logical description of the network
itself. It is not drawn to scale, nor are the nodes on the net presented in
a manner which more than coincidentally resembles their physical location.
This logical description of a network is the topology of the network; it is
a topological map.

Now, if the map included the offices, the desks, and the other physical
features surrounding each node, then it would be a topographical map.

Topology and logical both contain "log," a good memory aide. Remember the
difference when you talk with a mathematician; they get grumpy when you
confuse topology with topography.


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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