Ring topology

In a ring topology, each device is connected to two devices (Figure 5.3), and data is transferred by passing it on to the next device in the network. If the data is not for that device, it will forward it on to the next device and so on:

Figure 5.3: Ring topology

Early iterations of the ring topology were unidirectional, and quite often people would draw them as only going clockwise. Yes, they are unidirectional, but the devices do not understand the concept of clockwise and counterclockwise, so devices will transmit in one direction or the other depending on how they are configured. Looking back at Figure 5.3, let's imagine Computer A wanted to talk to Computer D. In a clockwise configuration, the data would pass through Computer B and Computer C en route to Computer D. In a counterclockwise configuration the data would transfer directly to Computer D.

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