Ring Topology as we already know forms a closed loop by connecting Network Nodes. But now its time for some practical work. For strong basis we should first understand in constructing a scenario of Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer. So, in this article I am going to provide you a step-by-step tutorial on How to Make Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer? For the sake of convenience I will also provide different images at each step. I hope you people are going to love it.

I will be starting this tutorial guide from various preliminaries related to it. These preliminary concepts will help you a lot in understanding this step by step tutorial. However, if you are already familiar with these concepts you can skip these concepts and directly jump to Ring Topology Cisco Packet Tracer Step By Step Guide. But in case you want to go through the pi-pointed concepts then you can go through whole of it from here. That`s totally up to your liking.

Requirements for Tutorial

I am making this one as a beginner`s tutorial so that you can easily understand for creating Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer. But you should have basic knowledge of Computer Networks, Network Topology and Types of Network Topology. These things will help you understanding this step-by-step practical guide. Once you are able to understand this practical, then you will be able to implement it in real life environment. Nevertheless, for the sake of understanding you should have knowledge of the following things:

• Computer Network
• Network Topology
• Ring Topology
• Cisco Packet Tracer

Computer Network

A Computer Network simply consists of various types of devices. These devices connect with each other. Computer Network contains clients, servers, printers, network devices and other types of peripheral devices. The major motives behind Computer Networks are:

1. Communication
2. Data or File Sharing
3. Device or Hardware Sharing
4. Cost Efficiency
5. Convenience

Network Topology

The term Network Topology refers to the organization and layout of a Computer Network.  It defines that how different components of a Computer Network connect to each other. Topology of a Network assist you in understanding location or positioning various Network Devices. Apart from this, a Network Topology also gives you the details on the path for data flow within a Network. When it comes to error handling and troubleshooting of Computer Network, you always get help from Network Topology.

Ring Topology

In Ring Topology connects the Network Devices in a completely closed path. This closed path can be in any form like circle, triangle, square or whatever else. You can easily identify the closed path. A closed path starting point and ending point is always the same like Olympic Running Track. So, whenever we connect Network Nodes like Computers and other Types of Network Nodes in the Ring Topology Configuration, we can say that our Computer Network is actually a Ring Network.

Cisco Packet Tracer

It is a specialized tool developed by Cisco Systems. It allows the construction, visualization and simulation of various practical implementations involved in the field of Computer Networking. In fact various Computer Network Certification Courses use this popular tool as a lab instructing tool. Cisco Packet Tracer provides different tools for constructing and simulating Networking Concept scenarios. It provides an attractive user interface for working as compared to other tools. You will surely find it easy to use.

User interface provides different tabs. Each tab contains different tools. You can easily drag and drop these devices on to the drawing area. From tools menu you can find a variety of tools. Each of these tools will help you in building and simulating your practical scenario. Cisco Packet Tracer provides the following tools:

• Different types of Network Cables
• Server, Client, Desktop Computers and Laptops
• Various Cisco System Switches, Hubs and other Network Devices

One of the major advantage of Cisco Packet Tracer is that its cross-platform comparability. You can use it on any Operating Systems including Android and iOS Students enrolled in Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Program get it perfectly free of cost. Such students can use it for free during and event after the program completion. However, for commercial and professional use you have to pay considerable fee for using it. For this tutorial, all you need is just to Download and Install Cisco Packet Tracer.

Cisco Packet Tracer (Free Download)

Now you have gone through these preliminary requirements its time to begin my step by step tutorial. I am going to provide you a detailed Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer Step By Step Guide Tutorial.

Ring Topology Cisco Packet Tracer Step By Step Guide

In this section, I am going to write down different steps for constructing Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer. I will also be explaining each and every step for your proper understanding. I will demonstrate every step with the help of picture. This will help you in enhancing your learning. But before beginning this tutorial you should fulfill following requirements:

Place Computers on Drawing Area (Step 1)

In this step you will need to place Computers or Computing Devices on the main drawing area. You can find Computers easily in the tools menu (bottom left corner). In the tools menu, find ‘End Devices’ option to find Computing Devices. There are plenty of end devices like Server, Laptop, Desktop, Tablet PC and many more that you can use. Click on the end device you want to use. After clicking on the device place your pointer on the drawing area. After that click again. You will see clearly that device is placed on the drawing area. Repeat this same process for placing any number of end devices you want. As described earlier I have placed only four Desktop Computers for the sake of convenience.

Draw Switches on Drawing Area (Step 2)

You can`t connect computers directly with each other. You obviously need an intermediate device that will serve this purpose. There are variety of options available in Cisco Packet Tracer Toolbox. For example, you have separate sections labelled as Routers, Switches, Hubs and Wireless Devices in the tools menu. Each of these devices have specialized usage. Hub and Switch are two suitable devices for making Ring Topology Network in Cisco Packet Tracer. I will be using a Switch for this purpose. Now, draw four Switch Devices from the tools menu using the same process you used while drawing computers.

Create Communication Links (Step 3)

So far we have just placed Computers and Switches. It is is evident from picture that there is no Communication Channel between these devices. For communication to occur, we must have a proper communication link or channel. In this step we will be creating communication link between each pair of computer and its corresponding switch. We will connect PC0 with Switch0, PC1 with Switch1 and so on.  I will use standard Un-shielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable or Ethernet Cable for this purpose. In order to find Ethernet Cable go to icon labelled as ‘Connections’ in Cisco Packet Tracer Tools Menu. There are plenty of cable types in this menu. However, you will not any cable named Ethernet Cable. In Packet Tracer, an Ethernet Cable is named as ‘Copper Cable’. Moreover, you will find two options for this cable type:

1. Straight-Trough
2. Cross-Over

For creating a working Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer we need following two types of connections:

1. Connection between a Computer and Switch via Straight-Through Cable
2. Connection among Switches using Cross-Over Cable

Connect Computer to Switch

1. Select Ethernet Straight-Through from Cisco Packet Tracer Tool Menu. This is easily done by clicking on the designated cable icon.
2. After selecting cable type, move to drawing area. Click on the Computer and you will be able to see option menu. As we are working with Ethernet Cable so we will select Fast Ethernet from the menu. You will be able to see a black colored line along-with mouse pointer.

3. Move mouse pointer to extend line up to Switch where you want to connect Computer and click on it. Again you will see the same menu as before. But this time you will see multiple options. However, each option labeling will be Fast Ethernet. Each option represents a Port of Switch. You can connect cable to any port you want.

4. Repeat this process and connect each pair of Computer and corresponding Switch. If you carefully follow these steps, your Network will look like following one.

Connect Switches

Still our Ring Topology Network is looking incomplete. Now, this is time to connect Switches together. You can use the following steps to accomplish this task.

1. Select Ethernet Cross-Over Cable from Cisco Packet Tracer Tool Menu. Again click on the icon for selecting cable.
2. After selecting cable type, move to drawing area. Click on the Switch and you will be able to see option menu containing multiple Fast Ethernet Switch Port options. Each port will contain numbering for identification. Click on the port you wish to connect cable. After this you will see a black colored dashed-line along-with mouse pointer.
3. Move mouse pointer to extend line up to Switch where you want to connect Computer and click on it. Again you will see the same menu as before. Again you will see multiple Switch Ports. Connect cable to a port you want to connect to.
4. Repeat this process for all four Switches. After this your Ring Topology Network will look life following in Cisco Packet Tracer.

Configure IP Address (Step 4)

Still our Example Network will not be working. This is because we have only connected Network Devices so far. We have not assigned any addresses to Computers. So, how one computer will identify another one? Each Network Device is identified with the help of address. For this we have to configure IP Address of each computer in our Network.

This is most important step in tutorial. So you need to understand it carefully. After proper configuration of IP Address you can test working of Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer to ensure that its working or not. For configuring IP Addresses you just need to follow these tasks:

Tasks to Configure IP Address

1. Click on Computer for displaying additional options. You can do a lot of configurations in these options. All these options are present in different tabs. However, for creating Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer you just need to configure IP Address. For configuring move to tab labelled ‘Desktop’.

2. First option in ‘Desktop’ tab is IP Configuration. Click on this option to open IP Configuration dialog box. Don`t get confused. Configuration process is really simple one. You just have to enter two IP Addresses in fields ‘IP Address’ and ‘Subnet Mask’.

3. You have to fill IP Address and Subnet Mask for configuration. There is option for you to use any IP Address and corresponding Subnet Mask. But for the sake of convenience and learning you can use the following IP Address and Subnet Mask configuration:

Computer	IP Address	Subnet Mask
PC0	193.212.200.1	255.255.255.0
PC1	193.212.200.2	255.255.255.0
PC2	193.212.200.3	255.255.255.0
PC3	193.212.200.4	255.255.255.0

Test Ring Topology Network in Cisco Packet Tracer (Step 5)

This step ensures that your Network is communicating properly. Its always good to test functioning of Computer Network. But one thing I would like to mention is that this is logical testing. When you physically establish Ring Network then again you will have to test it. This is because in real time implementation there are a variety of Network Devices involved in it. There may be problem in the cable you have used. Network Interface Card (NIC) may have malfunctioning in it. One of the Switch Ports may be problematic. So, it is always good to perform both logical and physical testing. You can logically test Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer easily. Just take a couple of steps to accomplish this:

1. Select Simple PDU from right hand side of Cisco Packet Tracer. It is basic tool for testing any Computer Network. You will see a message sign on mouse pointer. Click on computer from where you want to generate a message. That is the one you need.

2. After selecting the Sender now its time to select Receiver. All you need to do is simply click on computer you wish to be receiver.

3. In Real Time window right at the bottom, you can clearly see message. In case of success message, you can infer that your Ring Network is good to go.

Final Words

Here we are at the completion of the tutorial. I have tried my level best to answer this question How to Create Ring Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer? through this beginners tutorial guide. By carefully following each and every step you will be able to create any type of Ring Network Topology in Cisco Packet Tracer. Most critical thing is configuration of IP Addresses. You should take great care in this. I hope that you have understood the article. In case of any ambiguity please feel free to write it to me. That`s all for now. Stay tuned for more updates….