Ring Topology

[Dana Fellows]

Please tell me that I'm wrong but isn't it time for Ring Topology to be removed from the Network+ objectives? I understand that there are things left in the objectives that are relevant and still in use but not sure about this one. I do see that Cat 3 cabling is gone though.

 

[Steve Linthicum]

I'm a bit of a history buff. While I don't miss those days of hanging Christmas tree lights and having a single bulb burn out and going through the whole string of lights replacing bulbs one at a time until finding the "bad bulb", I like to remind people that's the way we use to have to do it. As for its remaining inclusion in the exam objectives, well according to this 2021 article I guess it continues to have its place.

 

[Rick Butler]

I think a ring network, if we actually ever see one nowadays, would show up in the WAN side of things now - old school FDDI networks, SONET and so forth. Of course, if anyone is still actually using Token Ring somewhere, they probably need a jolt from a MAU energizer to the back of the neck.

 

[Dana Fellows]

There are still a lot of XP machines, floppy disks being used, and other old stuff. But all these eventually have to be dropped from the objectives. What makes Ring Topology so special is what I'm wondering.

 

[Rick Butler]

Because it's more of a philosophical topic, not a specific thing?

I mean, heck, even a Token Ring network is a Star with respect to physical topology. No one uses vampire taps anymore for LAN networking - heck, hubs aren't even very common these days, in favor of a switch.

I think the more you go to the academic away from the applicative concept, the less likely it's going to be removed as a topic.

 

[Andrew H]

Bidirectional fiber rings are still prevalent as a cost saving effort. Stars and Mesh are great, but not always affordable.