RING NETWORK

Ring network connects computers in a circle of point-to-point connections, with no central server, such as a series of desktop computers in an office. Each node handles its own applications and also shares resources over the entire network. If one node becomes inoperative, the other nodes are still able to maintain contact with one another. Such a network is best for decentralised systems in which no priorities are required

Under the network, a signal is transferred sequentially via a "token" fro one station to the next. When a station wants to transmit, it "grabs" the token, attaches data and an address to it, and then sends it around the ring. The token travels along the ring until it reaches the destination address. The receiving computer  acknowledges receipt with a return message to the sender. The sender then releases the token for the token for use by another computer.

Each station on the ring has equal access but only one station can talk at a time. To allow an orderly access to the ring, a single electronic token passes from one computer to  the next around the ring as seen in (token ring). A computer can only transmit data when it capture the token.

Advantages:

All nodes on the network have equal chance of transmitting data.                                                      

Growth of system has minimal impact on performance.

Disadvantages:

If one of the nodes ones down then the whole network may go down.

Token may get lost , or many token are generated.

Difficult to add and delete nodes to /from the ring.                                     

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