Väyläkaapelointi

Väyläkaapelointi refers to a type of network cabling architecture where devices are connected in a linear fashion to a single transmission medium, often called a backbone or bus. Instead of each device having a direct connection to a central hub or switch, multiple devices tap into this shared cable. Information travels along the cable, and each device checks if the data is intended for it. If it is, the device processes the data; otherwise, it ignores it.

This architecture was common in early Ethernet networks, particularly with technologies like Thinnet (10BASE2) and Thicknet (10BASE5). Advantages of väyläkaapelointi include its simplicity and lower cost compared to star topologies, as it requires less cabling. However, it also has significant drawbacks. A break or fault anywhere in the main cable can disrupt communication for all connected devices. Furthermore, troubleshooting can be more complex as identifying the exact location of a problem can be challenging. Performance can also degrade as more devices are added to the network due to increased data collisions. Due to these limitations, väyläkaapelointi has largely been replaced by star and extended star topologies in modern networking.