In Ring Topology, computers are connected through a single circle of cable. There are no terminated ends. The signals travel around the loop in one direction and pass through each computer. The ring is an active topology where each computer acts like a repeater to boost the signal, and sends it on to the next computer. Failure of one computer in a ring network can affect the entire network.
Ring Network
| Topology | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Bus Topology | Uses the least amount of cable. Media is inexpensive, simple and reliable. Is easy to extend. | Hardware bugs are difficult to isolate. Does not adequately support large number of I/O requests from users. Cable break can affect many users. |
Ring Topology | Networks can cover greater distances. Performance is even despite many users. | Expanding the system can be costly. Network reconfiguration disrupts operation. |
Star Topology | New computers can be easily added. Cable layouts are easy to modify. Failure of one computer does not affect the rest of the network. | Uses a large amount of cable. If the centralized point fails, the network fails. |
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Standard Topologies