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Quizzes > Computers & Technology > Computers & IT

Networking Components Quiz: Can You Spot a Bus Network Disadvantage?

Think you can identify bus network disadvantages? Test your skills in our computer bus architectures quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for networking components quiz on dark blue background

Ready to tackle the trickiest aspects of bus network topologies? In our Free Bus Network Disadvantage Quiz, you'll discover why a disadvantage of a bus network is that _____ when too many devices share the same backbone, performance can plummet. It's the perfect way to identify weak points and reinforce best practices. This score-based networking components quiz will test your grasp on bus network disadvantage, computer bus architectures, and even ISA MCA VESA EISA PCI AGP standards. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned IT pro, prove your mettle! Click our network troubleshooting quiz for a warm-up, then explore more network practice questions . Take the challenge now and sharpen your network topology quiz skills!

What is the main drawback of a bus topology if the backbone cable fails?
All devices lose connectivity
Automatic fault tolerance
Dedicated communication paths
Enhanced security
In a bus topology, all devices share a single backbone cable, so if it fails, the entire network goes down. This single point of failure is a critical disadvantage in terms of reliability. Repairing or replacing the backbone disrupts communication for all nodes. GeeksforGeeks
Why can performance degrade as more devices are added to a bus network?
Increased signal collisions
More dedicated bandwidth
Lower contention for the medium
Improved overall throughput
All devices in a bus topology share the same communication medium, so adding more nodes increases the chance of signal collisions. Collision management protocols can retry transmissions, but this reduces effective throughput. The result is slower network performance as the device count grows. GeeksforGeeks
What additional hardware component must be installed at each end of the bus cable?
Terminator
Router
Repeater
Hub
Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable to absorb signal energy and prevent reflections. Without proper termination, signals can bounce back and cause interference. This requirement increases installation complexity compared to other topologies. GeeksforGeeks
Which issue affects a bus network when device cables are not properly shielded?
Redundancy enhancement
Signal reflection
Reduced noise immunity
Increased fault tolerance
Unshielded or improperly shielded cables can allow signals to reflect or pick up interference. These reflections can collide with valid signals, leading to data corruption. Proper shielding and termination are necessary to maintain signal integrity. GeeksforGeeks
How does a single faulty connector affect a bus network?
Enhances data flow
Only that device is isolated
Improves signaling
Brings down the entire network
Since devices connect to the same backbone, a bad connector can break the continuity of the cable. This interrupts communication for all devices on the network. Identifying and fixing the bad connector is essential to restore service. GeeksforGeeks
Why is fault isolation challenging in a bus topology?
Each device is isolated
A single break affects all devices
Bus topologies self-heal
Networks automatically reroute traffic
In bus topology, the shared cable means a fault anywhere can impact the entire network. Locating the break or fault point requires testing along the cable length. There is no automated rerouting, so diagnostics are manual and time-consuming. GeeksforGeeks
What happens to data transmission when multiple nodes send simultaneously in a bus network?
Data collisions occur
No impact due to separate channels
Data is queued by the backbone
Packets are prioritized by length
Bus topology uses a shared medium, so simultaneous transmissions collide. Collision detection and retransmission protocols must resolve these collisions, delaying data. High collision rates reduce effective network bandwidth. GeeksforGeeks
Which of these is a scalability limitation of classic bus topology?
Unlimited branches supported
Maximum cable length restricts node count
Automatic expansion modules
Infinite device support
Bus topology is constrained by the maximum practical cable length and signal attenuation. Exceeding this length causes weak or lost signals. Therefore, adding more nodes beyond a point is not feasible without repeaters. GeeksforGeeks
Why is maintenance non-disruptive in a star topology but disruptive in a bus topology?
Star cable is unshielded
Bus uses redundant pathways
Bus backbone is single shared link
Star has no central device
Star topology centralizes links, so isolating one node doesn't affect others. In bus topology, servicing the backbone disrupts all communication. Thus, maintenance on a bus must be scheduled to avoid network downtime. GeeksforGeeks
What disadvantage does the lack of a dedicated switch introduce in bus networks?
Excessive VLAN support
Improved packet routing
No traffic segmentation
Enhanced multicast filtering
Switches segment collision domains, but bus topology has no switches, so all devices share the same domain. This leads to high collision rates and no possibility for VLAN partitioning. The entire network's performance suffers under heavy load. GeeksforGeeks
Which cabling medium is most commonly associated with classic bus topology?
Fiber optic
Power line
Coaxial cable
Twisted pair
Traditional bus topologies often use coaxial cable for their single backbone. Coaxial supports proper impedance and shielding needed for bus designs. Other media like twisted pair or fiber are more common in modern topologies. GeeksforGeeks
How does a single terminator failure manifest in a bus network?
Network self-heals
Enhanced throughput
Signal reflections and erratic communication
Automatic re-termination
When a terminator is missing or faulty, signals reflect back along the cable. This creates noise and unpredictable packet errors. Communication reliability degrades until the terminator is fixed. GeeksforGeeks
Why might adding a device to a live bus network cause a brief outage?
Segmented collision domains
Dedicated hot-plug connectors
Automatic traffic balancing
Disconnecting the bus to attach the tap
Adding a new node typically requires physically tapping into the backbone cable, which breaks the electrical path. During this process, the network is interrupted until the connection is secured. This downtime is unavoidable in classic bus installations. GeeksforGeeks
Which factor limits data transfer speeds in bus networks?
Independent channels
Shared medium bandwidth
Dedicated link per device
Multiple collision domains
All devices must share the same cable bandwidth, so no single device can exceed the medium's maximum rate. Heavy usage by multiple nodes reduces available throughput. Therefore, bus topologies are slower compared to switched networks. GeeksforGeeks
How does long-distance signal attenuation disadvantage a bus network?
Automatically boosts signals
Limits maximum cable length
Enhances immunity
Allows infinite reach
Without repeaters, signal strength decreases over distance due to attenuation, limiting the cable's practical length. Exceeding this length causes weak signals and data errors. This constraint reduces the network's geographical span. GeeksforGeeks
What collision management protocol is typically used in bus networks?
Token passing
ATM
TDMA
CSMA/CD
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) listens before sending and checks for collisions. If a collision occurs, devices wait a random backoff period before retrying. This method is standard in Ethernet bus environments. GeeksforGeeks
Which of these is a security disadvantage of bus topology?
Easy packet sniffing by any node
Isolated traffic segments
Built-in encryption
Centralized access control
With a shared medium, all transmitted data can be seen by every device on the bus. Malicious nodes can easily capture packets without detection. There is no built-in mechanism for traffic isolation or encryption. GeeksforGeeks
Why are bus topologies not suitable for large-scale networks?
Automatic load balancing
Central management console
Infinite node support
Performance and reliability issues
As the network grows, collisions, attenuation, and fault impact increase, reducing uptime and throughput. Large physical spans demand repeaters, complicating the design. Modern networks opt for switched or star topologies instead. GeeksforGeeks
How does the absence of a central hub affect troubleshooting in bus networks?
No single test point for diagnostics
Centralized logging available
Automated fault alerts
Segment health monitored
Without a hub or switch, administrators can't isolate individual segments for testing easily. Troubleshooting requires manual inspection along the entire cable run. Fault identification becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive. GeeksforGeeks
What is a consequence of using multiple stubs in a bus network?
Signal reflections and noise
Improved bandwidth
Automatic stub termination
Uniform impedance
Stubs off the main bus introduce impedance mismatches. These mismatches cause reflections and degrade signal quality. Minimizing or properly terminating stubs is essential to minimize errors. GeeksforGeeks
Why do bus networks require careful planning of cable length?
To increase stub count
To simplify CSMA/CA
To avoid excessive attenuation
To maximize broadcast domains
Cable attenuation increases with length and weakens signals. Exceeding specified maximum lengths results in data integrity issues. Proper planning ensures reliable communication within design limits. GeeksforGeeks
How does network maintenance affect bus topology differently than star topology?
Requires full shutdown of the backbone
Can hot-swap nodes without impact
Automatically reroutes traffic
No special downtime needed
Bus backbone maintenance interrupts the entire communication path. In contrast, star topology isolates branches, so only the serviced node or link is affected. This makes bus maintenance more disruptive. GeeksforGeeks
What disadvantage arises from the lack of redundancy in bus networks?
Load sharing
Automatic failover
Multiple parallel paths
Single failure point
Bus topology has no alternative data paths, so any break or fault halts all network traffic. There is no built-in redundancy or failover mechanism. Critical environments typically avoid pure bus designs for this reason. GeeksforGeeks
How can adding repeaters to extend a bus segment be problematic?
Reduces cable length requirements
Adds latency and potential failure points
Automatically balances load
Eliminates all collisions
Repeaters boost signals but introduce processing delay, increasing end-to-end latency. Each repeater is another device that may fail. Overuse complicates the topology and maintenance. GeeksforGeeks
Which disadvantage is tied to bus topology's broadcast nature?
All traffic is visible to every node
Private virtual channels
Segmented transmissions
Dedicated per-node bandwidth
Broadcasting sends frames to the entire network, so every node processes all packets. This increases CPU load on each device and reduces privacy. Unauthorized devices can intercept sensitive information. GeeksforGeeks
Why might a bus network be cost-inefficient as it grows?
More repeaters and long cable runs needed
Lower maintenance labor
Automatic upgrade paths
No additional hardware required
Extending the bus requires repeaters, amplifiers, and extra lengths of coaxial cable, which incur costs. The labor to install and maintain long runs also rises. Ultimately, star or switched networks can be more economical at scale. GeeksforGeeks
Which problem occurs due to impedance mismatch in bus topology?
Signal reflections
Segmented collision domains
Automatic noise suppression
Increased bandwidth
Mismatch between cable characteristic impedance and terminator impedance causes parts of the signal to reflect back. These reflections can interfere with the original transmission. Proper termination and cable selection are critical to avoid this issue. GeeksforGeeks
What makes expanding an existing bus network physically challenging?
Wireless bridging built-in
Plug-and-play expansion modules
Hot-swappable bus taps
Need to splice into active backbone
Splicing or tapping into an active backbone interrupts traffic and risks damaging signals. Maintenance windows are required, making expansions disruptive. Star or switch-based networks allow easier hot-plug additions. GeeksforGeeks
How does electromagnetic interference (EMI) more readily affect bus topologies?
Traffic is encrypted
Short stub lengths
Shielded individual channels
Long exposed cable runs pick up noise
Bus networks often have long, continuous cable runs that can act as antennas for EMI. This interference degrades signal quality across all connected devices. Proper shielding and routing are necessary to mitigate EMI. GeeksforGeeks
Why does a bus topology have limited support for very high-speed networks?
Signal reflections and timing skew
Dedicated fiber segments
Automatic lane negotiation
Switched backplane
High data rates exacerbate signal reflection and timing skew issues on a shared coaxial medium. Proper termination and matched cable lengths become extremely critical but difficult to maintain. Modern high-speed systems use switched fabrics instead. GeeksforGeeks
How does characteristic impedance variation along a bus cable affect performance?
Increases throughput
Improves modular expansion
Reduces error rates
Creates standing waves and signal loss
Any variation in cable impedance causes partial signal reflections at impedance discontinuities. This results in standing waves, which distort signals and reduce data integrity. Ensuring uniform impedance is crucial for reliable bus communications. GeeksforGeeks
Why is signal attenuation more critical in a bus network than in a star network?
No active amplification by a central device
Each link has a dedicated repeater
Bus uses fiber optics
Star uses shared medium
In star topology, signals go to a switch or hub that can amplify or regenerate signals for each outbound link. Bus topology lacks such an active central point, so signals weaken over distance. This limits maximum segment length and node count. GeeksforGeeks
How does stub length influence reflections in a bus network?
Stubs reduce EMI perfectly
Short stubs always cause reflections
Longer stubs increase reflection
Stub length has no effect
Stubs are unterminated side branches off the main bus, and longer stubs act like resonant cavities for signals. This increases impedance mismatches and reflections. Minimizing or properly terminating stubs is required for signal integrity. GeeksforGeeks
What is a disadvantage of using directional couplers in extended bus segments?
Simplifies termination
Guaranteed noise immunity
Removes all reflections
Loss of signal amplitude and added complexity
Directional couplers sample signals for repeaters but introduce insertion loss, reducing signal levels. They also add more components that can fail or require calibration. This increases network complexity and cost. GeeksforGeeks
Why is it challenging to maintain characteristic impedance in mixed-cable bus deployments?
Approach does not affect signals
Impedance is always constant
Mixing cable lowers attenuation
Different cable types have varying impedances
Coaxial, twisted-pair, and other cables have distinct impedance ratings (e.g., 50? vs. 75?). Mixing them without proper matching creates reflections at junctions. Ensuring uniform impedance across segments is vital for high-speed data integrity. GeeksforGeeks
How does temperature variation affect a bus topology's cable characteristics?
Changes dielectric constant and impedance
Eliminates reflections
Improves signal gain
Stabilizes impedance uniformly
Temperature shifts alter the dielectric properties of cable insulation, which in turn changes characteristic impedance and propagation speed. This can lead to mismatches and reflections. In long runs, these effects become more pronounced, impacting stability. GeeksforGeeks
Why might time-domain reflectometry (TDR) be necessary in a bus network?
To boost signal strength
To locate impedance discontinuities and faults
To replace terminators
To encrypt data
TDR sends a pulse and measures reflections to pinpoint cable faults or impedance mismatches. This diagnostic is essential when manual testing fails to isolate breaks or discontinuities. It's a specialized but often necessary tool for complex bus deployments. GeeksforGeeks
How does insertion loss differ from return loss in a bus network analysis?
Insertion loss measures reflections
Return loss measures attenuation
Insertion loss measures attenuation; return loss measures reflections
Both measure the same effect
Insertion loss quantifies the reduction in signal power passing through a component. Return loss measures how much signal is reflected back toward the source. Both metrics are critical to diagnosing bus cable performance. GeeksforGeeks
What challenge does ground potential difference present in long bus cables?
Neutralizes EMI fully
Stabilizes termination
Induces unwanted currents causing noise
Eliminates all signal loss
Different ground voltages at cable ends cause currents to flow along the shield or conductor, introducing noise. This degrades signal integrity and can damage equipment. Proper grounding practices are crucial for stable bus operation. GeeksforGeeks
Why is it difficult to implement dynamic bandwidth allocation on a bus network?
No centralized controller for scheduling
Built-in dynamic QoS engine
Automatic TDMA support
Per-device dedicated lanes
Bus topology lacks a central device to monitor and allocate bandwidth dynamically. All nodes contend for the same medium under CSMA/CD rules, making guaranteed allocation impossible. Modern switched networks handle QoS more effectively. GeeksforGeeks
How does coaxial connector wear affect bus performance over time?
Automatically re-terminates
Increases impedance mismatch and noise
Reduces cable attenuation
Enhances shielding
Repeated coupling and decoupling can damage connector surfaces, altering contact impedance. This leads to reflections and signal degradation. Regular inspection and replacement are required for reliable operation. GeeksforGeeks
In a bus network, why is ensuring longitudinal balance important?
Increases bus length unlimitedly
Prevents common-mode noise and EMI coupling
Boosts signal amplitude
Reduces cable mass
Longitudinal balance refers to equal impedance to ground on both conductors, minimizing common-mode noise. Poor balance allows EMI to couple into the data pair, causing errors. High-performance bus systems must maintain tight balance specifications. GeeksforGeeks
What makes directional reflection coefficients critical in high-speed bus design?
They quantify how much signal is reflected at discontinuities
They ensure infinite impedance
They guarantee zero attenuation
They classify coax types
High-speed signals are sensitive to small impedance changes. Directional reflection coefficients help calculate and manage reflections at connectors or splices. Precise characterization is essential to maintain signal fidelity at gigabit rates. GeeksforGeeks
Why does using multiple mixed-impedance terminators pose a risk in complex bus deployments?
Eliminates stubs entirely
Creates mismatched reflection points and indeterminate network behavior
Guarantees perfect signal absorption
Automatically adjusts cable impedance
Different terminator impedances cause standing waves and unpredictable reflection patterns. This results in intermittent errors and makes network performance non-deterministic. Expert-level installations strive for uniform termination. GeeksforGeeks
How does ground loop isolation become a complex issue in long industrial bus networks?
Isolated segments remove all EMI
Bus architecture prevents loops inherently
Different power sources create loops inducing disruptive currents
Signal reflection eliminates loops
Industrial setups often have multiple grounding points that can differ in potential. These differences drive currents along the bus shield, introducing noise and possible damage. Special isolation devices or star ground schemes are required to mitigate this in bus networks. GeeksforGeeks
Why is fault localization using TDR challenging on branched bus topologies?
Branches cause multiple reflection sources, making fault signatures ambiguous
TDR only works on fiber optics
TDR can pinpoint faults instantly
Branches eliminate reflections
Each branch generates its own reflection, so TDR returns composite signals from all branches. Interpreting these overlapping echoes requires advanced analysis and often fails to isolate a single fault location. Simplified topologies are easier to test. GeeksforGeeks
What advanced mitigation is required to support gigabit speeds on a bus architecture?
Long stubs for signal enhancement
Precision impedance-matched cables, low-loss connectors, and active equalization
Standard RG-58 coax only
Passive splitters at every node
To sustain gigabit data rates on a shared bus, every component must maintain tight impedance tolerances and minimal loss. Active equalizers correct for frequency-dependent attenuation. This level of precision is costly and rarely used outside specialized applications. GeeksforGeeks
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Bus Network Disadvantages -

    Distinguish the primary drawback of a bus network is that a single cable failure can disrupt the entire network, and recognize other issues like collisions and termination problems.

  2. Differentiate Network Topologies -

    Compare bus topology with star, ring, and mesh designs to understand their relative strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.

  3. Explain Computer Bus Architectures -

    Summarize the characteristics and evolution of ISA, MCA, VESA, EISA, PCI, and AGP bus standards and their roles in system performance.

  4. Analyze Network Performance Impacts -

    Assess how factors like bandwidth limitations, collision domains, and cable length affect bus network efficiency and scalability.

  5. Apply Troubleshooting Strategies -

    Use your knowledge of networking components to diagnose and resolve common bus topology issues in practical scenarios.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Collision Domain & Throughput Impact -

    In a bus network, all nodes share a single collision domain, so simultaneous transmissions trigger CSMA/CD collision handling and require retransmission, cutting effective throughput. For example, with 10 nodes on an Ethernet bus, collision probability rises steeply, capping efficiency near 60%. A handy mnemonic is "Collision = Cast Off and Resend."

  2. Scalability Issues -

    Adding more devices increases collision chances exponentially (roughly O(n²) for n nodes), so performance degrades quickly in large LANs (source: Cisco CCNA). To recall this limitation, think "Bigger Bus, Bigger Bust!"

  3. Single Point of Failure -

    A bus topology hinges on one backbone cable: any break or faulty terminator isolates downstream nodes and halts communication (per CompTIA Network+). Terminators prevent signal reflection, but physical damage still brings the entire network down.

  4. Legacy vs Modern Bus Architectures -

    Bus standards evolved from ISA (8/16-bit @ ~8 MHz) through MCA, EISA, VESA, to PCI and AGP, each boosting bandwidth yet inheriting shared-medium drawbacks. Use the phrase "I Manically Eject Various PC GPUs" to recall ISA, MCA, EISA, VESA, PCI, AGP (IEEE Computer Society).

  5. Arbitration & Access Delays -

    Bus networks employ centralized or daisy-chain arbitration, introducing wait times before devices can transmit; PCI's central arbiter, for instance, assigns bus grants by priority (Intel® PCI Local Bus Specification). Remember "DCC" for Daisy-chain, Centralized, Controller scheme to grasp common arbitration methods.

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