ethernet vs token ring
...s generally easy to troubleshoot a 10 Base-T network. In a worst-case scenario, one can be troubleshot by simply disconnecting nodes from the hub one at a time until the network recovers. Usually, the hub will give an indication as to which node is causing a problem, allowing the technician to troubleshoot that node as opposed to spending many hours locating the problem. Easy Moves & Changes-Disconnecting a node from the network has no effect whatsoever on the rest of the network. Therefore, moving an attached device is simply a matter of unplugging it from the hub and reconnecting it somewhere else. Can Use UTP Cable-Many buildings are already wired with UTP cable, which can support a Token Ring network. Even in the event a building is not wired with UTP already, it is still preferable to install UTP than any other type of cable, as UTP will support other applications later, whereas other cable types will generally be specific to one network type. This allows leveraging the UTP cable investment for other applications many years later. Disadvantages: Distance-10 Base-T only allows distances from the hub to the node of 100 meters (330 feet). In some installations, this can be a major problem if nodes need to be located farther away. Sensitive To Noise-The nature of UTP cable makes it considerably more sensitive to electrical noise than coaxial cable. Generally, this rules 10 Base-T out as an option for installations on factory floor environments or other locations with a high ambient noise level. Fast Ethernet 100Mb-Fast Ethernet is a generic term for a family of high speed Local Area Network (LAN) types running at 100 Mbps over either UTP or fiber optic cable. These networks use the same Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol that "normal" 10 Mbps Ethernet uses. In fact, the main difference between Fast Ethernet and the older 10 Mbps system is speed. Fast Ethernet is currently the upgrade path most users of 10 Mbps Ethernet systems are using to speed up their networks. There are several reasons for this popularity. The first is that it is fairly easy and inexpensive to convert to Fast Ethernet as opposed to FDDI. Fast Ethernet's support for all Ethernet frame types and software ensures that every machine upgraded does not need a lengthy reconfiguration to make it work after the upgrade. Normally, all that needs to be done to a PC to upgrade it to Fast Ethernet is to replace the Network Interface Card (NIC) with a new Fast Ethernet card and load the drivers for the new card. In the real world, however, things are not always as easy as we would like them to be. Fast Ethernet has some very stringent distance limitations which need to be accounted for. Fast Ethernet cabling requirements vary with the specific type of Fast Ethernet used. The most common variation, 100 Base-TX, uses Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable. All cable runs must fully meet the Category 5 performance specifications, and should be tested to ensure compliance with the applicable standards. The other variations of Fast Ethernet are 100 Base-T4, which uses Four Pair Category 3 (or higher) UTP, and 100 Base-FX, which uses multimode fiber optic cable.Currently, 100 Base-T4 products are not commonly available, so this document will not address the configuration of 100 Base-T4 networks in depth. Basic Operation-At the MAC (Media Access Control) layer, which controls who transmits data to the network and when they can do it, Fast Ethernet uses the same CSMA/CD protocol that 10 Mbps Ethernet uses. CSMA/CD stands for "Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection”. The way it works is that any device needing to transmit data to the network must first wait and listen to see if anyon...