Network complexity

Network complexity is the number of nodes and alternative paths that exist within a computer network, as well as the variety of communication media, communications equipment, protocols, and hardware and software platforms found in the network.

Simple network: A small LAN with no alternative paths, a single communication protocol, and identical hardware and software platforms across nodes would be classified as a simple network.

Complex network: An enterprise-wide network that uses multiple communication media and communication protocols to interconnect geographically distributed networks with dissimilar hardware and software platforms would be classified as a complex network.

See also

• Connectivity (graph theory)

References

• Michael H. Behringer (2009). "Classifying Network Complexity" (PDF). ACM. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Danail Bonchev, Gregory A. Buck (2007). "Quantitative Measures of Network Complexity". Complexity in Chemistry, Biology, and Ecology. pp. 191–235. doi:10.1007/0-387-25871-X_5. ISBN 978-0-387-23264-5.