FreeBSD6 Unleashed

Network Topologies

Your FreeBSD machine might be installed on a university network, in a professional colocation facility, within a corporate enterprise network, or on a home dial-up network (or dialed-up directly). These are just the most common types of settings. Different network topologies, or logical layouts of devices and data link mechanisms, are as numerous as the individual networks in the world—no two are exactly the same. However, virtually all networks share a common basic topology and a few fundamental components.

In Figure 22.2, you can see the type of topology that would be found in a typical home network. The topology shown here is also serviceable as a simplified diagram of an enterprise or university network.

Figure 22.2. A ...