Ring topologies contribute to rugged, robust security and surveillance networks that require automatic failover for mission-critical applications. For ultimate reliability, combine this topology with industrial Ethernet switches that can transmit video,
audio, and data at gigabit speeds even in harsh conditions. Cities and public safety organizations are increasingly choosing ring topologies with industrial Ethernet switches for
their IP security networks to meet demands for higher image quality, enhanced network accessibility, scalability and cost savings.
Ring Topology Advantages and Disadvantages
Ring topologies connect all devices in your network in a daisy chain. Data travels from one device to the next until it reaches its destination and finally back to the operations center. This configuration requires less cabling and trenching than alternative
star topologies and thus is simpler and more cost-effective to implement.
With traditional ring topologies, if one device in the ring fails, then the entire network was affected. You could lose all video feeds from multiple cameras in your
network at once. To address this issue, several companies, including Black Box, developed proprietary ring topologies to improve resiliency and failover time by enabling data to travel in two directions around the ring. Combined with industrial Ethernet
switches, a resilient ring topology can recover your network in 15 to 30 milliseconds—fast enough that you won't miss a single frame of your video feed.