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The distinguishing feature
of the ring topology is that the nodes, which are connected by point-to-point
links, are arranged to form a closed circular configuration. With a full
duplex link, nodes are able to transmit and receive data in either direction
on the ring, but data must pass through all nodes between the sender and
the receiver with the possibility of a shorter path in one direction or
the other. Unidirectional ring topologies are more common. When messages
are sent from one node to any other, they are transmitted onto the ring
and travel around it until received at the addressed node or returned to
the transmitting node. Each node must be able to recognize its own address
in order to accept messages. In addition each node serves as an active repeater,
retransmitting messages addressed to other nodes. |
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