Which topology is described as a hub-and-spoke arrangement where some sites connect directly to each other?

• A. Hub-and-spoke topology
• B. Full-mesh topology
• C. Partial-mesh topology
• D. Star topology

Answer: (A)

Think of a central hub that all other sites connect to. In a hub-and-spoke topology, that hub is the traffic center for the whole network, and communications between the peripheral sites usually pass through the hub rather than going directly between those sites themselves. This centralizing of traffic is what defines the arrangement.

If every site connected to every other site directly, that would be a full-mesh. If only some sites have direct links while others connect through the hub, that would be a partial-mesh. A star topology is similar in having a central device, but the term hub-and-spoke is the standard description for the WAN-style layout with a distinct central hub handling traffic, which best matches the description given.