a ring topology includes nodes in a closed loop/ circle.
the nodes are attached to a single cable at various sections of the ring
data can be sent one way around the ring but if necessary they can travel in both directions if a double ring is used
a common example of the ring topology is the IBM Token Ring network.
each device has its own unique address
it uses a token ring structure of sending and receiving messages
a message is attached to the token ring, along with the destination address of a specified node
token ring is passed around until the correct node receives the message
there is a constant speed used throughout the network
a modification of the ring topology is the optical fibre dual ring network, where each node is connected to two rings
- each ring uses optical fibre cable and operate by carry data in opposite directions - The dual rings allows a section of the network to still operate while the ring is broken