The ring topology it is a network configuration where device connections create a circular data path. Each device in the network is fully connected to two others, the one in front and the one in the back, thus forming a single continuous path to transmit the signal, like the dots in a circle..
This topology can also be called an active topology, because the messages go through every device on the ring. It is also known as a ring network. It refers to a specific type of network configuration in which devices are connected and information is passed between them according to their immediate proximity in a ring structure. This type of topology is highly efficient and handles heavy traffic better than the bus topology..
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A ring network is similar to a bus topology. In the ring topology each computer is connected to the next. The last computer at the end is connected to the first computer. This means that there is no first or last computer. In this network, the signal path is in the form of a ring.
In this topology, an RJ-45 network cable or a coaxial cable is used to connect the computers together, depending on the network card that each computer uses..
Ring topologies can be used in wide area networks (WAN) or local area networks (LAN).
There are two types of ring topology depending on the data flow: unidirectional and bidirectional.
The one-way ring handles the signal flow in both counterclockwise and clockwise directions. Therefore, this type of network is also known as a half-duplex network..
The unidirectional ring is easier to maintain relative to the bidirectional ring topology. For example, a network with the SONET / SDH protocol.
On the other hand, a bi-directional ring topology handles data traffic in both directions and is a full-duplex network..
The data flow in the ring topology is based on the principle of token passing. The token is passed from one computer to the next and only the computer with the token can transmit.
The recipient computer receives the token data and sends it back to the issuing computer with an acknowledgment signal. After being verified an empty token is regenerated.
The computer that has the token is the only one that is allowed to send data. The other computers have to wait for an empty token to arrive.
A token contains a piece of information that is sent along with the data by the issuing computer. That is, the token is like a permission package that gives a particular node the permission to release information throughout the network..
Thus, if a node with the token has some information to transmit on the network, the node releases information. If the node has no data to release on the network, then it transfers the token to the next node.
- No need for a network server or central hub to control network connectivity between each workstation.
- Installation and troubleshooting are relatively easy in this type of network..
- Data can be transferred at high speeds between workstations.
- There is equal access to resources.
- Performs better than bus topology, even when nodes are increased.
- Can handle a large volume of nodes in a network.
- Provide good long-distance communication.
- Ring network maintenance is much easier compared to bus network.
- Troubleshooting this topology is much easier, because cable faults can be easily located.
Ring topology has a greater capacity to handle heavy network communications better than some other configurations.
Under heavy traffic the token pass makes the ring network perform better than the bus network.
The possibility of a data collision is reduced, since each node will only be able to release a data packet after receiving the token.
On the other hand, all data flows in a single circular direction, which minimizes the possibility of packet collisions..
- A single cut in the cable can cause disturbances to the entire network.
- Adding or removing any node on the network is difficult and can cause network activity problems.
- All data that is transferred across the network must pass through every workstation on the network, which can make it slower than a star topology.
- The hardware required to connect each workstation to the network is more expensive than Ethernet cards and hubs / switches.
- In the one-way network, the data packet must go through all the devices. For example, suppose that A, B, C, D, and E are part of a ring network. The data flow goes from A to B and so on. In this condition, if E wants to send a packet to D, the packet must traverse the entire network to reach D.
One of the main disadvantages of a ring topology is that only one data transmission failure can affect the entire network. If any individual connection in the ring is broken, the entire network is affected.
Likewise, if any device is added or removed from the established ring, the ring breaks and that segment fails..
To alleviate this problem, some ring configurations use a bi-directional structure, where data is transmitted both counterclockwise and clockwise..
These systems could be called redundant ring structures, where there is a backup transmission medium in case a transmission fails..
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