FDDI (Fibre Distributed Data Interface)

This is another type of Token Ring technology whose topology is a dual ring (fig.4). The outer ring is referred to as the primary ring while the inner ring is called the secondary ring⁷. Usually, the network traffic flows on the primary ring but if the primary fails the data will automatically transfer to the secondary ring. For this reason it is more reliable than the other Token Ring technology.

Fig. 4

FDDI is often used with MANs or with very large LANs such as those connecting several buildings in a complex or site⁷. This technology uses a fibre-optic cable as a result; it gives a high-speed performance with the additional advantages of token passing ring topology.

ARCnet (Attached Resource Computer Network)

This is another technology that can be used with LANs. It uses a token passing access control method over a star-bus topology. The token does not pass along a path based on physical location but instead, it moves from one computer to another based on that computer’s position in the assigned numerical order. Consequently, it is seen as being inefficient as transmitted data may travel longer paths than necessary to reach its destination.