Advantages
- Very orderly as every device has the opportunity to transmit
- Performs better than a star topology under heavy load
- Can create much larger network using Token Ring
- Doesn't require a server to manage the inter-connectivity
Disadvantages
- One malfunctioning computer creates problems for the entire network
- Additions and changes of devices can affect the network
- Adapter cards are much more expensive than Ethernet cards
- Much slower than an Ethernet network under normal load
Sources
Overview
A ring network is a standard circular topology in which each link or computer is connected directly to another two 'either-side' of it. A token is used to control which computer can transmit at any one time.
Details
A ring network is a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two other nodes, forming a circular pathway for signals, hence it's name. Data travels from node to node, with each node handling every packet.
Because a ring topology provides only one pathway between any two nodes, ring networks may be disrupted by the failure of a single link. A node failure or cable break might isolate every node attached to the ring. This network topology is built for coping with a heavy load and can withstand to have many more machines connected than bus or star networks.
This topology is connected using network adapter cards and MAUs (Multi-station Access Unit) which are expensive comparatively to the standard Ethernet connections and simple movement or additions to the network can cause problems due to its somewhat linear functionality.