The simplest Ethernet network infrastructure is composed of a single
collision and broadcast domain. This type of network is referred to as a
"flat" network because any traffic that is transmitted within this
network is seen by all of the interconnected devices even if they are not the
intended destination of the transmission.
The benefit of
this type of network is that it is very simple to install and configure, so it
is a good fit for home networking and small offices. The downside of a flat
network infrastructure is that it does not scale well as demands on the network
increase. Some issues with nonhierarchical networks include:
- Traffic collisions on the network increase as devices are added, impeding
traffic flow on the network.
- Broadcast traffic increases as devices are added to the network causing
over utilization of network resources.
- Problem isolation on a large flat network can be difficult.
The table of Network Devices shows the key network hardware devices in
a nonhierarchical network and the function of each.
