Ring Topology

The ring architecture is a distributed design with minimal connection and a topology of two nodes connected to every node forming an uninterrupted circular structure. A ring topology is just a physical ring or closed Loop. Messages are sent from one node to the next around the ring. Each node should be capable of recognizing its addresses. The Rings’ Topology is stochastic, relying on token passing as a media access control to ensure that all nodes can connect to the network within a set time frame. In-Ring Topology, there are ring networks with centralised control in Loop. Let us start with the meaning and concept of ring topology. 

History of Ring Topology

The ring topology was first employed in modest buildings such as businesses and schools. However, this form of technology is infrequently used in today’s world. It has been changed to other networks for reliability, efficiency, or compatibility. Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater. In-Ring Topology, every device and node have two branches connected directly.

What do you mean by Ring Topology?

A ring topology is a network design in which devices are connected in a ring structure and communicate with each other via their ring node’s neighbouring node. Unlike a bus architecture, a ring topology is more efficient and can manage larger loads. Most Ring Topologies are called one-way unidirectional ring networks since packets can only move in one direction. The two types of meaning and concept of ring topology are bidirectional and unidirectional, respectively. Several ring topology arrangements perform differently depending on devices joined together to form a network. When any node is broken or disconnected, the entire network is also crashed or disabled.

The disadvantage of a ring topology is that if one node goes down to send data, the entire network loses. As a result, some meanings and concepts of ring topology systems employ dual architecture to address this issue. The information is sent in circular and counter-clockwise directions in a dual-ring configuration. If one transmission breaks, there is a second method of transmission; these systems are also known as redundancy ring structures.

What is the mechanism behind ring topology?

The steps outlined below will assist you in comprehending how information is transmitted among both nodes in a ring topology:

• Throughout the ring, empty vouchers are distributed for free. The ring’s speed ranges from sixteen Mbps to a hundred Mbps.
• The empty token maintains that the sender and receiver try to address placeholders for storing and transferring data frames.
• When a sending node needs to deliver a message, it obtains a token and helps fill this with data, including the MAC address of the receiver node and its ID. A packed token will be sent to the upcoming node in the ring.
• The next node receives the token and helps determine whether it is intended for transmission. The data would then be copied from the frame into the node, the token is set to 0, and the node is transmitted to another node.
• It helps with data transmission; the token can be ingested and recycled back by any node.
• Data is transmitted in the reverse direction to the desired location if the interaction is forgotten, a node is inactive, and the network continues to support a dual ring.

How is ring topology formed?

Each device inside the Ring topology is attached to two other devices, and multiples of these forms are brought together to form a circular path, referred to as a ring network. Data through the Topology is sent from one device to the next, and so on until it reaches its target. Tokens are used to send data from the transmission point to the destination, so the name is Token Ring Topology. All nodes must remain operational for transmissions to proceed in this Topology, also called Active Topology. By meaning and concept of Ring Topology, every node has two branches used for proper communication purposes.

In some cases, when any node or device is broken, all the connection goes broken/down. Then we will not communicate with the other nodes or devices.

Applications of Ring Topology?

• This Topology is suitable for both LANs and WANs.
• Many organisations also employ the ring network as a storage device for their present network.
• If a node’s connection is lost, it uses the bidirectional functionality to handle the traffic in the reverse direction.

Conclusion

Ring networks are all here to remain, and they may eventually replace Ethernet due to the expansion of mainframe computers and the requirement for delayed connectivity. The ring network’s bandwidth increases, which will not significantly constrain its expansion.

We will also discuss some features of ring topology. It will be easy to reconfigure and easy to install. Because each device in a ring may operate as a repeater, a signal can reach a considerable distance. In-ring Topology will also provide easy fault identification in any node and devices with which the nodes can easily communicate.