Review of Networking
•Number of Stations Per 4 Mbps Token Ring: In the same fashion as the limits imposed on cable lengths due to the operating speed of the network and type of cabling used, there are limitations on the number of stations that may be connected to a single ring using active circuitry. If these numbers are exceeded, a bridge, switch, or other segmentation device must be used to break the ring into two or more smaller rings as detailed in the list below:
-IBM Types 1, 2 STP: 250 stations
-IBM Types 6, 9 STP: 250 stations
-Category 5 UTP: 150 stations
-Categories 3, 4 UTP: 150 stations
-Multimode Fiber Optics: 250 stations
-Single Mode Fiber Optics: 250 stations
•Number of Stations Per 16 Mbps Token Ring: The limitation on the number of stations in the Token Ring also applies to 16 Mbps networks. In one case, the number of stations supported by these faster Token Ring networks is significantly lower than the number supported by the 4 Mbps rings.
-IBM Types 1, 2 STP: 250 stations
-IBM Types 6, 9 STP: 136 stations
-Category 5 UTP: 150 stations
-Categories 3, 4 UTP: 150 stations
-Multimode Fiber Optics: 250 stations
-Single Mode Fiber Optics: 250 stations
The Token Ring limitations that are described above are summarized for your ease of reference in Table
Table
|
| Max # of Stations | Max Lobe Cable | ||
| Cable | Length | |||
Media |
|
| |||
Type |
|
|
|
| |
| 4 Mbps | 16 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 16 Mbps | |
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STP | IBM Types 1, 2 | 250 | 250 | 300 m | 150 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| IBM Types 6, 9a | 250 | 136 | 200 m | 100 m |
UTP | Category 5 | 150 | 150 | 250 m | 120 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Categories 3, 4 | 150 | 150 | 200 m | 100 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiber Optics | Multimode | 250 | 250 | 2000 m | 2000 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Single Mode | 250 | 250 | 2000 m | 2000 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
a. IBM Type 6 cable is recommended for use as jumper cabling only and should not be used for facility cabling installations.
Token Ring |
