Introducing LAN Topologies (Task 1) Walkthrough

In this beginner-friendly networking lab on TryHackMe’s Pre-Security pathway, we dive into the fundamentals of LAN (Local Area Network) topologies, with a twist. This isn’t just about reading theory; the lab walks us through the strengths and weaknesses of three classic network designs and tasks us with breaking each topology to understand real-world failure scenarios better.

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What Is a LAN Topology?

A topology defines the physical or logical layout of a network. Essentially, how devices are connected and how data flows between them.

In this task, we explored and tested three major LAN topologies:

• Star Topology

• Bus Topology

• Ring Topology

Each has unique characteristics, advantages, and inherent weaknesses, and this lab allowed me to uncover those firsthand.

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Interactive Lab Walkthrough

The core of this task is a hands-on lab where you explore each topology visually and break it by exploiting its weak points. Here’s how I approached each scenario.

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Star Topology: Centralized but Fragile

Lab Scenario:

A typical star topology setup with all computers connected through a central switch.

Action:

I used a simulated hammer tool to destroy the central switch.

Outcome:

Instantly, all communication between devices was severed. This confirmed the single point of failure in star topologies — if the central hub/switch dies, the entire network is down.

Takeaway:

• Scalable and structured

• High hardware cost

• Central device is a critical vulnerability

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Bus Topology: Simple but Crowded

Lab Scenario:

All devices shared a single backbone cable — the core concept of bus topology.

Action:

I generated heavy traffic from multiple devices at once, mimicking real-world congestion.

Outcome:

The network quickly slowed down and began to choke, demonstrating the ease with which bottlenecks and collisions can form on a shared line.

Takeaway:

• Low-cost, easy to implement

• Troubleshooting is complex

• One cable failure = full network outage

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Ring Topology: Efficient but Rigid

Lab Scenario:

Devices were arranged in a loop, passing data from one to another in sequence.

Action:

I broke the loop by simulating a device or cable failure.

Outcome:

All communication ceased — a break in the ring halted the entire network, as there’s only one data path unless dual-ring redundancy is added.

Takeaway:

• Reduces collisions compared to bus topology

• Data may travel through many hops

• Single break = complete failure

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Key Knowledge Checks (Quiz Answers)

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Final Thoughts

This lab was an excellent mix of interactive learning and critical thinking. Instead of just reading about topology advantages/disadvantages, I got to simulate real-world failures and experience how each design responds to faults.

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Skills Practiced

• Identifying structural weaknesses in networks

• Understanding how data flows in various topologies

• Simulating network failures

• Recognizing single points of failure and bottlenecks

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Flag Captured

THM{TOPOLOGY_FLAWS}