A
computer network with a
star network topology, in its simplest form, consists of one central, or
hub computer which acts
as a
router to transmit messages between connected computers by a
store-and-forward[?] or
switching
system. A hierarchical extension of the star topology allows each node connected by a
hub to in turn
play the role of a
hub for a disjoint set of
leaf nodes[?]. In this case multiple
routes[?] may
exist between any two given nodes of the network.