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FC0-U71 Practice Question: Which network topology connects all devices to a…
Which network topology connects all devices to a single central cable?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse the 'single central cable' of a bus topology with the 'central device' of a star topology, mistakenly thinking a hub or switch is a cable, or they assume 'central' implies a star layout.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Bus
A bus topology uses a single central cable, often called a backbone or trunk, to which all devices are connected via drop lines or taps. Data transmitted by any device travels along the entire cable, and each device checks the destination address to determine if it should accept the data. This contrasts with other topologies that use different physical or logical connection methods.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Ring
Why it's wrong here
Ring wiring connects each device to two neighbours in a closed loop, so no single central cable carries all traffic. It is tempting as a topology that also uses shared cabling, and it would be correct where deterministic token passing around a loop is required.
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Star
Why it's wrong here
A star topology links every device to a central switch or hub, not to a single shared cable, so it fails the scenario's bus requirement. It is tempting because star is the dominant modern LAN layout, and it would be correct where centralised switching and per-device fault isolation are wanted.
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Mesh
Why it's wrong here
Mesh interconnects nodes via multiple redundant paths between devices, with no single central cable. It is tempting because mesh offers high resilience, and it would be correct where fault tolerance and path redundancy matter more than simple shared-medium wiring.
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Bus
Why this is correct
A bus topology uses one central backbone cable with all devices tapping into it, so every node shares that single transmission medium. This directly matches the stem's description of devices connected to a single central cable.
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