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English
Technical Explanations
This section provides information that will be needed by power users who wish to use IEEE 1394
with maximum efficiency. Users who are connecting 16 or fewer devices (nodes) using standard
4.5 m cables will not require this information.
“
Topology
” refers to the overall shape of the connected nodes (devices in the network). Types of
topology include daisy-chain, star, and tiered star.
Figure 3: Types of topology
In these topologies, it is possible for any node to be seen from any other node as being in a “tree”
structure. In this case, the single selected node is called the “
root node
.” As the name suggests,
the tree structure is similar to the branched form of a tree, but is normally drawn upside down
from an actual tree. Thus, the “root” will be depicted at the top of the diagram. As shown in the
following diagrams, any node in the topology can be the root node.
Figure 4
2. Device Connections (Topology, Routes,
Cycle Master)
Star connection (radiating)
Daisy-chain
Tiered star (branch connection)
Tree structure B
Tree structure A
Root
Root
Star
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mLAN-body(E).book Page 11 Monday, October 2, 2000 1:51 PM
