LAN Technologies

The most common network architectures are the following:

  • Ethernet

  • Token ring

By the Way

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has produced a set of standards for LAN architectures. Although token ring and ethernet were both created before the IEEE standards, the IEEE specifications for IEEE 802.3 (ethernet) and IEEE 802.5 (token ring) now provide vendor-neutral standards for these important LAN technologies.

The following sections will examine ethernet and token ring in greater detail, along with another LAN technology: FDDI.

Ethernet

Ethernet and its newer sibling Fast Ethernet are the LAN technologies most commonly used today. Ethernet has become popular because of its modest price; Ethernet cable is inexpensive ...

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