Ring Network Topology
Ring Network Topology Diagram
A network topology in which each of the nodes connects to two other nodes, resulting in forming a continuous pathway for the signals through each of the nodes known to be called the “rings”, is known to be called as a “ring network”. Data within such networks is known to be traveling from one node to another node, through all the nodes one by one along its way handling every single packet. The mentioned “rings” can be “unidirectional”, having all its traffic travelling clockwise or anticlockwise all the way around the ring. Also, it can be the so called “bidirectional”, providing only one single pathway between two nodes out of many other nodes. A unidirectional ring network is known to be very likely disrupted by the failure of some link appearing to be nearby.
A node failure as well as any cable break may lead to isolation of every single node, which is attached to the “ring”. Some of the ring networks are known to be adding a so called "counter-rotating ring", also known to be called a “C-Ring”. Adding the mentioned ring can be done for forming a redundant topology. Thus, once break happens, a data may get wrapped back on the ring before it reaches the end of the cable. Such data is known to be maintaining a path to every single node all the way along the resulting counter-rotating ring.
The "dual ring" networks are known to be including the so called “Spatial Reuse Protocol”, as well as the “Fiber Distributed Data Interface”, or “FDDI”, and the “Resilient Packet Ring”. The well-known “IBM token ring networks” are also sometimes called as the “802.5 networks”. They are commonly used for avoiding all the possible and existing weakness of a ring topology by using another topology — a “star” one. Such mentioned topology is usually used at the physical layer for imitating a ring at the so called “data link layer”.
Some of the previously mentioned “SONET/SDH rings” have two sets of the bidirectional links, which can be found between the nodes, allowing the failures or maintenance at the multiple points of the same ring resulting in no loss of the primary traffic on the outer ring in a way of switching the traffic on the inner ring after the so called “failure points”.
One of the advantages of using such network topology can be mentioned the convenience of using it for performing in a better way than a bus topology does, especially in the cases of the need of loading under the so called “heavy network”. The mentioned network topology is known to be used within a very orderly network having every device accessing to the “token” having the opportunity to transmit. Such ring network topologies do not require any central nodes for managing the connectivity between different computers. Because of such point to point line configuration of devices with a device on another side, it is quite simple to install as well as to re-configure whatever is needed by removing or adding any device.
Another special feature of the ring network topologies is its “point to point” line configuration, which makes it much simpler to isolate all the previously identified faults. Also, the reconfiguration for line faults of bidirectional rings in ring network topology can be very fast, having all the switching happening at the highest level, leading to the traffic not requiring any individual re-routing.
The disadvantages of the ring network topology: first of all, it is always more difficult to configure using it to compare to using a “star” one as any node adjunction equals to the ring reconfiguration and shutdown. One of the malfunctioning workstations within the ring network topology can create lots of problems for all the network. This can be solved by using a switch or a dual ring used for closing off the break. Every time there’s some moving, changing and adding the devices can affect the entire ring network and the communication delay is known to be directly proportional to the number of all the existing nodes in the ring network.
It is important to remember that any ring network may afford the so called “fault tolerance” to the telecommunication network having two paths between any two nodes on the network. Ring protection is known to be a system commonly used for assuring any needed communications, continuing in the event of failure of only one path. The most widely used protection architectures are “1+1” as well as “1:1”.
In 1+1 architecture, every single protection path is known to be used for protecting the signal having the bridge at the head of the path on a permanent basis, while the switching occurs at its tail end. There are more than two parallel routes are sent in this architecture traffic and the receiving end is known to be selecting the better of the mentioned two signals. Once some failure occurs, the destination switches into one of the alternative paths. The mentioned architecture is quite a widely used for as it is simple for implementing, resulting quite fast restoration. Although, there’s still a drawback, which is the wastage of the bandwidth, occurring for a reason of no traffic traveling through the redundant path.
Pic. 1. Ring Network Topology
Drawing the ring network topology diagrams taking into consideration any of the mentioned architectures can be always much simpler using a professional software for completing such tasks. One of the best applications nowadays is ConceptDraw DIAGRAM one, enabling all its users to create a great looking diagram, such as a ring network topology one, especially having the Computer and Networks solution downloaded from ConceptDraw STORE application.
Pic. 2. Ring Network Topology Diagram
Having the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software means having all the needed tools for making smart looking drawings, at the same time having the ConceptDraw STORE which is meant to be used while working in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM means simplifying your work with creating such diagrams by using the previously developed solutions full of the stencil libraries with the design symbols depending on the subject of your drawing.
See Also Network Topologies:
- Bus Network Topology
- Star Network Topology
- Mesh Network Topology
- Tree Network Topology
- Fully Connected Network Topology
TEN RELATED HOW TO's:Infographic is a visual way of representing various information, data, knowledge in statistics, geography, journalism, education, and much more areas. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM supplied with Pictorial Infographics Solution from the “Infographics” Area, provides a set of powerful pictorial infographics tools. Thanks to them it is the best Infographic Maker.
Picture: Infographic MakerRelated Solution:The ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Planogram Software and Retail Plan Software offers powerful tools of Enterprise Architecture Diagrams Solution for visualization the market analysis and easy making successful Retail Plans and Planograms with useful detailed recommendations about placing products and optimization the shelf space.
Picture: Planogram Software and Retail Plan SoftwareRelated Solution:You will be able to use a Note Exchange solution to share mindmaps and mindmap data across your entire organization. It has never been easier to run brainstorm ideas for building strategies.
Picture: Brainstorm Exchanging Mind Maps with EvernoteRelated Solution:ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software provides the Telecommunication Network Diagrams Solution from the Computer and Networks Area for quick and easy drawing the Telecommunications Networks.
Picture: Telecommunications NetworksRelated Solution:With best content of the Wireless Network solution that includes more than 10 building pre-designed objects network engineers can illustrate the computer network of a building.
Picture: Illustrate the Computer Network of a BuildingRelated Solution:Infographic Design Elements for visually present various geographically distributed information.
Picture: Spatial infographics Design Elements: Location MapHow to design SDL Diagram fast and easy? ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software supplied with unique Specification and Description Language (SDL) Solution from the Industrial Engineering Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park will help you design SDL Diagram of any complexity without efforts
Picture: SDL — Systems EngineeringRelated Solution:UML Collaboration Diagram illustrates how components are wired together to larger components and software systems that shows the structure of arbitrarily complex systems. ConceptDraw has 393 vector stencils in the 13 libraries that helps you to start using software for designing your own UML Diagrams. You can use the appropriate stencils of UML notation from UML Collaboration library with 36 objects
Picture: UML Collaboration Diagram. Design ElementsRelated Solution:Every corporate network is unique, though there are guidelines and best practices in developing networks. As it is quite difficult to implement a pure topology within a company, using a hybrid network topology is considered a better solution. As a rule, such network assembles advantages and features of source topologies. This diagram is an example of the Hybrid network. This type of network topology means a conjunction of other network topologies. Such as star-bus, ring-mesh topologies, etc. It should be obviously diverse networks. The final computer network inherits both advantages and disadvantages of its ingredients. Using the ConceptDraw Computer and Networks solution including vector graphic libraries and templates one can develop professional custom network diagrams of any topology and complexity.
Picture: Hybrid Network TopologyRelated Solution:Wireless network topology — logical topology. Wireless network topology shows how the computers connect each other when there is no physical connection. The computers communicate each using the wireless devices.
Picture: Wireless Network TopologyRelated Solution:ConceptDrawDIAGRAM 18