Network Topologies

USDN supports three primary network topologies to accommodate different use cases, scale requirements, and connectivity patterns. Each topology offers distinct advantages and is suited for specific deployment scenarios.

Overview

The choice of network topology depends on factors such as:

• Number of nodes in the network
• Required redundancy and fault tolerance
• Bandwidth and latency requirements
• Cost and complexity considerations
• Security and isolation needs

1. Point-to-Point Topology

Minimum Required Nodes: 2 nodes

Point-to-Point topology provides direct, dedicated connections between two nodes, offering the simplest and most efficient communication path.

Characteristics

• Simplicity: Easiest to configure and manage
• Performance: Optimal bandwidth utilization and lowest latency
• Security: Single encrypted tunnel reduces attack surface
• Scalability: Limited to two endpoints
• Fault Tolerance: No redundancy; single point of failure

Use Cases

• Branch office connectivity
• Secure site-to-site connections
• Development and testing environments
• High-bandwidth applications between two locations

2. Full Mesh Topology

Minimum Required Nodes: 3 nodes (recommended 3-8 nodes)

Full Mesh topology creates direct connections between every pair of nodes in the network, providing maximum redundancy and optimal routing paths.

Characteristics

• Redundancy: Multiple paths between any two nodes
• Performance: Optimal routing with direct paths
• Fault Tolerance: High resilience to node failures
• Scalability: Connections grow exponentially (n*(n-1)/2)
• Complexity: Increased configuration and management overhead

Connection Formula

For n nodes: n × (n-1) ÷ 2 total connections

• 3 nodes = 3 connections
• 4 nodes = 6 connections
• 5 nodes = 10 connections
• 8 nodes = 28 connections

Use Cases

• Critical applications requiring high availability
• Multi-site enterprises with equal importance
• Distributed applications with heavy inter-node communication
• Networks requiring optimal performance between all endpoints

3. Hub and Spoke Topology

Minimum Required Nodes: 3 nodes (1 hub + 2 spokes)

Hub and Spoke topology centralizes connectivity through a central hub node, with all other nodes (spokes) connecting only to the hub.

Characteristics

• Centralization: All traffic flows through the hub
• Scalability: Linear growth (n-1 connections for n nodes)
• Cost Effective: Minimal number of connections required
• Single Point of Failure: Hub failure affects entire network
• Bandwidth Bottleneck: Hub must handle all inter-spoke traffic

Connection Formula

For n nodes: n-1 total connections (all spokes connect to hub)

• 3 nodes = 2 connections
• 5 nodes = 4 connections
• 10 nodes = 9 connections

Use Cases

• Centralized data processing and storage
• Branch office networks with central headquarters
• Cost-sensitive deployments
• Networks with asymmetric traffic patterns
• Centralized security and monitoring requirements

Topology Comparison

Feature	Point-to-Point	Full Mesh	Hub and Spoke
Min Nodes	2	3	3
Max Recommended	2	8	50+
Connections	1	n×(n-1)÷2	n-1
Redundancy	None	High	Low
Performance	Optimal	Optimal	Hub-dependent
Complexity	Low	High	Medium
Cost	Low	High	Medium
Scalability	Limited	Limited	High

Choosing the Right Topology

Point-to-Point

Choose when you need simple, high-performance connectivity between exactly two locations.

Full Mesh

Choose when you need maximum redundancy and performance, with moderate scale (3-8 nodes).

Hub and Spoke

Choose when you need cost-effective scalability with centralized control and can accept the hub as a potential bottleneck.

The USDN controller automatically manages the appropriate routing and encryption for each topology, ensuring optimal performance and security regardless of the chosen architecture.