How does a network topology affect your decision in setting up a network?

Network topology designing is used to supprot the below functionnalties:

1. how many user's are to be supported & how they would be connected

2. What type of layered security is to be supported

3. Type of network device's which would be required in the design and actual setup

4. whether to use mixed network topology to be cost effective based on type and usage of    network resources

Network topology dictates what media you must use to interconnect devices. It also serves as basis on what materials, connector and terminations that is applicable for the setup.