An end-system network topology is a graphical representation of the tabular
data gathered in the end-system network configuration table.
Topologies
should illustrate how end-systems are both physically and logically connected
to the network. Since end-systems are frequently added to existing network
diagrams, topology diagrams that include end-systems often include components
of network device configurations.
Like the network devices in a topology diagram, end-systems in a network
topology do not typically include every component of the end-system network
configuration table. Minimally, the end-systems on a topology diagram should
include the name, an illustration of the device and how it is connected to the
network.
Like an end-system network configuration table, the components
of a topology diagram that includes end-systems can have different components,
depending on the types of end-systems in the network. These components can also
be categorized according to logical TCP/IP layers.

A
topology diagram that includes end-systems will differ, depending on its focus.
A topology that is focused on the end-systems rather than the configuration of
network devices may represent the network components as a network cloud symbol
with the details of the end-systems connected to it. On the other hand, all the
details of the network device configuration may be included on the same diagram
as the end-systems.
Figure
provides an
example including the following components related to end-systems:
- Device name and purpose
- Operating system
- IP address