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Physicists say that the universe is expanding, and network administrators know they’re right. A simple bus or star topology is suitable only for small networks, with a dozen or so computers. But small networks inevitably become large networks as more computers are added. For larger networks, it’s common to create more complicated topologies that combine stars and buses.

For example, a bus can be used to connect several stars. In this case, two or more hubs or switches are connected to each other using a bus. Each of these hubs or switches is then the center of a star that connects two or more computers to the network. This type of arrangement is commonly used in buildings that have two or more distinct workgroups. The bus that connects the switches is sometimes called a backbone.

Another way to expand a star topology is to use a technique called daisy-chaining. When you use daisy-chaining, a switch is connected to another switch as if it were one of the nodes on the star. Then this second switch serves as the center of a second star.