Ethernet or Token Ring
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Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "Ethernet Token Ring" to get these possible sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Token_ring
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ethernet17.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ethernet17.htm
(Broken Link Removed)
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.
I hope this helps.
Ethernet and Token Ring are both networking technologies that were commonly used in the past to connect devices in a local area network (LAN). However, Ethernet has become the dominant technology nowadays, while Token Ring is rarely used.
To understand the differences between Ethernet and Token Ring, let's look at how they function:
1. Ethernet:
- Ethernet is a bus-based networking technology.
- Devices are connected to a central hub or switch using Ethernet cables.
- Ethernet uses a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol to manage network traffic.
- In CSMA/CD, devices listen for a clear channel before transmitting data. If multiple devices try to transmit simultaneously, collisions can occur, and algorithms are used to resolve these collisions.
- Ethernet supports varying speeds, such as 10 Mbps (Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet), 1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet), and even higher speeds with advancements like 10 Gbps (10 Gigabit Ethernet) and beyond.
2. Token Ring:
- Token Ring is a ring-based networking technology.
- Devices are connected in a logical ring, with each device holding a special token that controls access to the network.
- To transmit data, a device must possess the token. The device attaches data to the token and then releases it back into the ring.
- Other devices on the ring read the token and extract the data if the destination address matches their own.
- Token Ring supports fixed speeds, such as 4 Mbps and 16 Mbps.
Considering the technological advancements and advantages of Ethernet over Token Ring, Ethernet has become the preferred choice for LANs. Ethernet offers higher speeds, scalability, and easier implementation. It also provides better error handling and is more cost-effective compared to Token Ring.
To summarize, while both Ethernet and Token Ring were once used for LAN connectivity, Ethernet has emerged as the dominant technology due to its superior performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.