Mesh network topology is one of the key network architectures in which devices are connected with many redundant interconnections between network nodes such as routers and switches. In a mesh topology if any cable or node fails, there are many other ways for two nodes to communicate. While ease of troubleshooting and increased reliability are definite pluses, mesh networks are expensive to install because they use a lot of cabling. Often, a mesh topology will be used in conjunction with other topologies (such as Star, Ring and Bus) to form a hybrid topology. Some WAN architecture, such as the Internet, employ mesh routing. Therefore the Internet allows sites to communicate even during a war.

There are two types of mesh topologies: full mesh and partial mesh:

• Full mesh topology occurs when every node has a circuit connecting it to every other node in a network. Full mesh is very expensive to implement but yields the greatest amount of redundancy, so in the event that one of those nodes fails, network traffic can be directed to any of the other nodes. Full mesh is usually reserved for backbone networks.
• With partial mesh, some nodes are organized in a full mesh scheme but others are only connected to one or two in the network. Partial mesh topology is commonly found in peripheral networks connected to a full meshed backbone. It is less expensive to implement and yields less redundancy than full mesh topology.

Mesh Network Topology and Architecture - 1

Full mesh network topology of routers.

Mesh Network Topology and Architecture - 2

Partial mesh network topology of routers.