Hub and Spoke

Hub-and-Spoke Network Topology #

Concept: #

  • Central hub: One primary connection point (router, switch, server)
  • Spokes: Individual connections from hub to end devices/networks
  • All traffic flows through the hub: No direct spoke-to-spoke communication

Structure: #

    Device A
       |
Device D ←→ [HUB] ←→ Device B
       |
    Device C

Characteristics: #

  • Centralized control: Hub manages all communications
  • Simplified management: Single point for policies, monitoring, security
  • Single point of failure: If hub fails, entire network goes down
  • Efficient for centralized services: File servers, internet access, authentication

Common Examples: #

  • Wi-Fi networks: Access point (hub) + client devices (spokes)
  • WAN architectures: Corporate HQ (hub) + branch offices (spokes)
  • VPN networks: VPN concentrator (hub) + remote users (spokes)
  • Traditional Ethernet: Switch (hub) + connected devices (spokes)

Trade-offs: #

  • Pros: Simple management, centralized security, cost-effective
  • Cons: Single point of failure, potential bottleneck at hub, limited scalability

Bottom line: Hub-and-spoke centralizes network traffic through one primary node for simplified management at the cost of resilience.

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