Ring Topology Vs. Ethernet
Ring topology is a term that refers to the way in which a computer network is set up. It is no longer widely used. Ethernet is a type of cabling technology used in certain other network topologies.
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Function
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A ring topology network, or token ring network, functions differently than a typical Ethernet-based network. Unlike Ethernet, there are no hubs or switches in ring topology networks and computers are logically networked in a circle, so each piece of data travels around the circle until it reaches the computer that requested it.
Disadvantages
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The disadvantages of ring topology networking far outweigh the advantages. Although it is an orderly network type and requires no switch or hub, one malfunctioning link in the ring stops communication to all others. In addition, under normal networking circumstances, it is much slower than Ethernet connections.
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Fun Fact
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Computer industry giant IBM initially supported ring topology networking under the name Token Ring. The technology never caught on, however, and the advent of the cheaper 10Base-T Ethernet technology spelled the end for ring topology.
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