A network engineer needs to set up a topology that will not fail if there is an outage on a single piece of the
topology. However, the computers need to wait to talk on the network to avoid congestions. Which of the
following topologies would the engineer implement?

A.
Star

B.
Bus

C.
Ring

D.
Mesh

Explanation:
Token Ring networks are quite rare today. Token Ring networks use the ring topology. Despite being called a
Ring topology, the ring is logical and the physical network structure often forms a ‘star’ topology with all
computers on the network connecting to a central multistation access unit (MAU). The MAU implements the
logical ring by transmitting signals to each node in turn and waiting for the node to send them back before it
transmits to the next node. Therefore, although the cables are physically connected in a star, the data path
takes the form of a ring. If any computer or network cable fails in a token ring network, the remainder of the
network remains functional. The MAU has the intelligence to isolate the failed segment.
To ensure that the computers need to wait to talk on the network to avoid congestions, a Token Ring network
uses a ‘token’. The token continually passes around the network until a computer needs to send data. The
computer then takes the token and transmits the data before releasing the token. Only a computer in
possession of the token can transmit data onto the network.