Rings are 'round for good!

A ring topology is one where the stations are serially arranged using point-to-point connections between adjacent stations, such that a message must be received and then retransmitted, that is, repeated, by each station in turn as it progresses around the ring. After years of largely theoretical interest, ring topologies have enjoyed a surge in popularity during this decade. This article examines two broadly supported ring designs, Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.5 and the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), currently emerging as Local Area Network (LAN) standards, and explores the basis for this new-found interest in ring topologies. The many advantages that ring designs offer are presented, and based upon these, a proliferation of rings is envisioned in the next decade.