Ring topology in networking forms a structure of Ring in the network formation. all the nodes are connected in a ring and data travels in one direction using a control signal called a token.
Each node connects to exactly two other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for signals through each node as a ring.
Data travels from one node to another, with each node handling all the packets and acknowledging them.
Learn more about Bus Topology
Advantages of Ring Topology
- Not affected by adding further nodes or heavy network traffic as only the node with the token can transmit data so there are no data collisions.
- Relatively cheap to install and expand.
- No wiring closet space is required, as we know that there is only one cable connecting each terminal to its immediate neighbors, it is not necessary to allocate space in the building of wiring closets.
- Short cable length.
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
- It is very slower than the star topology while it is on the normal node.
- Difficult to diagnose faults.
- If the cable fails at any point in the ring then the whole network will fail to work or act.
- If any node fails then the token cannot be passed around the ring any longer so the whole network fails.
- The hardest topology to troubleshoot is that it can be hard to track down where the failure has occurred in the ring.
- Harder to modify or expand because by adding or removing a node you must shut down the network temporarily.
- In order for the nodes to communicate with each other, they must all be switched on.
