Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Networking Fundamentals Practice Test

A ring topology is characterized by each device being connected to exactly two other devices, forming a circular pathway for data transmission. This configuration allows for data to travel in one direction around the ring, making it possible for each device to receive and pass on the data until it reaches its intended destination.

The Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) network employs a ring topology, specifically designed for high-speed data transfer over fiber optic cables. FDDI is capable of supporting large networks with a substantial number of nodes, using a dual ring configuration for redundancy, thus ensuring better fault tolerance and reliability.

In contrast, Ethernet networks typically use a bus or star topology; local area networks (LANs) can implement multiple topologies but do not specifically use a ring topology as a commonly preferred method; and wide area networks (WANs) generally involve various topological structures based on distance and equipment, but ring topology is not a prevalent choice in WAN configurations. Therefore, the characteristics and common usage of FDDI networks effectively illustrate why this is the correct answer.

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