Building the Physical Network

What Is A Physical Network Diagram?
As we have often heard that visuals make an impression on the mind rather than simple theory or text. If we talk about the IT infrastructure, which is flooded with a range of devices, Network diagrams act as a one-stop solution in the scenario. It is a schematic that depicts the connections among all the devices in a network, such as servers, routers, and firewalls. It maps out the network architecture and visually explains the different components and connections in a network through symbols, shapes, or icons. An exemplary method to share the layout of any network, it makes the process easier to understand for users. Depending on the requirements, a network diagram can either be very simple or very typical. They are both categorized into two types – physical and logical.

A physical network diagram illustrates the interconnection of the devices in the network with wires and cables while a logical diagram Illustrates the way information flows through a network. To be precise, the physical network diagram reveals the network topology with all the physical aspects, such as ports, cables, racks, servers, specific models, etc. usually used by IT professionals, they are used to visualize the communication scheme of the network arrangement in residences or offices.

Why Use A Physical Network Diagram?
The main purpose of physical network diagrams is to provide insights about the different physical components in a network. Another purpose of a physical network diagram is to visualize how every component in the network works to assist with troubleshooting. A clear picture of the elements working together will pinpoint what needs to be remedied when something in the network is not working correctly.

A physical diagram is generally used to visualize the interconnection of network devices and other physical components. It displays the topology and the existence of physical links between devices. Mainly used by IT staff, a physical diagram visually documents the physical connections. They are used to troubleshoot network problems, identify security threats and weak spots, and organize changes in the network.

Types of the Physical Topology
The physical topology is the interconnected structure of a local area network (LAN). All the physical devices, when connected to the network through several types of cables, together constitute in making the physical topology.

Star Topology: This topology is employed with a single access point or a switch that acts as the center of the network. All nodes are directed from this singular point.
star topology
Mesh Topology: Mesh topology is a network of wires and cables that connects the computers and the network devices. All nodes are connected in a mesh topology.
mesh topology
Tree (Extended Star) Topology: this typology is employed with multiple access points connected linearly. Then odes are directed from their respective access points.
tree topology