Ring Topology

Ring Topology

In a ring topology, computers are connected on a single circle of cable. Unlike the bus topology, there are no terminated ends. The signals travel around the loop in one direction and pass through each computer, which acts as a repeater to boost the signal and send it to the next computer. On a larger scale, multiple
LANs can be connected to each other in a ring topology by using ThickNet coaxial or fiber-optic cable.

The advantage of a ring topology is that each computer acts as a repeater, regenerating the signal and sending it on to the next computer, thereby preserving signal strength.

Token Passing

The method of transmitting data around the ring is called token passing. A token is a special series of bits that contains control information. Possession of the token allows a network device to transmit data to the network. Each network has only one token.

The sending computer removes the token from the ring and sends the requested data around the ring. Each computer passes along the data until the packet finds the computer that matches the address on the data. The receiving computer then returns a message to the sending computer indicating that the data has been received. After verification, the sending computer creates a new token and releases it to the network.

The advantage of a ring topology is that it can handle high-traffic environments better than bus networks. In addition, the impact of noise is reduced in the ring topology.

The disadvantage of a ring topology is that only one computer at a time can send data on a single token ring. Also, ring topologies are usually more expensive than bus technologies.