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| 1.3 |  | Building-Block Approach |
| 1.3.2 |  | Identifying the components of an end-system topology table |

An end-system network topology is a graphical representation of the tabular data gathered in the end-system network configuration table. Topologies should illustrate how end-systems are both physically and logically connected to the network. Since end-systems are frequently added to existing network diagrams, topology diagrams that include end-systems often include components of network device configurations.

Like the network devices in a topology diagram, end-systems in a network topology do not typically include every component of the end-system network configuration table. Minimally, the end-systems on a topology diagram should include the name, an illustration of the device and how it is connected to the network.

Like an end-system network configuration table, the components of a topology diagram that includes end-systems can have different components, depending on the types of end-systems in the network. These components can also be categorized according to logical TCP/IP layers.

A topology diagram that includes end-systems will differ, depending on its focus. A topology that is focused on the end-systems rather than the configuration of network devices may represent the network components as a network cloud symbol with the details of the end-systems connected to it. On the other hand, all the details of the network device configuration may be included on the same diagram as the end-systems.

Figure provides an example including the following components related to end-systems:

- Device name and purpose
- Operating system
- IP address