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Networking Fundamentals · Intermediate

Partial Mesh

A topology in which some nodes have multiple connections but not every node connects to every other.

Definition

Partial mesh balances redundancy against cost by connecting critical sites redundantly and smaller sites through fewer links. It is common in enterprise WANs.

Example

Headquarters and two data centers are fully interconnected, while branches each connect to two of them.

Exam tip

Partial mesh is the realistic compromise between hub-and-spoke and full mesh.

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