(a) List one advantage and one disadvantage of Bus topology.
OR
(b) What is protocol in the context of computer networks? Which protocol is used to transmit hypertext across the web?
(a) List one advantage and one disadvantage of Bus topology.
OR
(b) What is protocol in the context of computer networks? Which protocol is used to transmit hypertext across the web?
(a) Bus Topology — one advantage and one disadvantage:
- Advantage: It requires the least amount of cable to connect all the computers, making it simple and cost-effective to install, especially for small networks.
- Disadvantage: If the main backbone cable fails or breaks, the entire network goes down, and fault detection/isolation is difficult.
(b) Protocol and hypertext transmission:
A protocol is a set of formal rules and conventions that govern how devices communicate and exchange data over a network, defining aspects like data format, timing, sequencing, and error handling.
The protocol used to transmit hypertext (web pages) across the World Wide Web is HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: one correct advantage of Bus topology (e.g., less cabling/cost-effective) — OR correct definition of protocol.
- 21 mark: one correct disadvantage of Bus topology (e.g., single cable failure affects entire network) — OR correctly naming HTTP as the protocol for hypertext transmission.
Hint
Bus topology: shared single cable = cheap but single point of failure. Protocol = rules for communication; HTTP transmits hypertext.
Quick Oral Answer
Bus topology uses one shared cable, making it cheap to install but vulnerable to complete failure if that single cable breaks; a protocol is a set of communication rules, and HTTP is the specific protocol that transmits hypertext over the web.
Analysis & Explanation
This question checks basic networking fundamentals: physical topology trade-offs and the role of protocols.
Concept — Bus topology
In a bus topology, all devices share a single common communication line (the 'bus' or backbone). This keeps cabling costs low and installation simple, but it also creates a single point of failure — any break in the shared cable disrupts communication for every connected device, and heavy traffic on the shared medium can cause collisions and slowdowns.
Concept — protocol
A protocol standardises how two devices 'speak the same language' over a network — without agreed rules for addressing, timing, and error checking, devices from different manufacturers could never communicate reliably. HTTP specifically defines how web browsers (clients) request and receive hypertext documents from web servers.
Exam trap
Students sometimes confuse HTTP with HTML — HTML is a markup language for structuring web pages, while HTTP is the protocol used to transfer those pages between client and server.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing HTTP (the transfer protocol) with HTML (the markup language used to write web pages).
- 2Giving a vague advantage/disadvantage for Bus topology without linking it to the shared single-cable design, e.g. writing 'it is fast' without justification.
- 3Describing 'protocol' only as 'network rules' without mentioning that it governs format, timing, and error control of data exchange.
Interesting Facts
Bus topology was the physical layout used by the earliest Ethernet networks (10BASE5/10BASE2) in the 1980s before star topology with hubs/switches became the norm.
HTTP was created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991 alongside HTML and the first web browser, forming the foundational trio of technologies behind the World Wide Web.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest disadvantage of Bus topology?
The biggest disadvantage is that the entire network relies on a single shared backbone cable — if that cable breaks or fails at any point, communication for all connected devices is disrupted.
Is HTTP the same as HTML?
No. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is used to structure and format web page content, while HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used to transmit that content between a web server and a browser.