What is desktop switching, Conventional shared token ring, Fully switched token ring – Madge Networks Token Ring Switch User Manual
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Smart DeskStream Technical Presentation 3
What is Desktop Switching ?
Conventional Shared Token Ring
n
Users share the Token Ring
network
n
Often up to 80 users share 16Mbps
Fully Switched Token Ring
n
Each user has their own dedicated Token
Ring !
n
No need to share 16Mbps with other
users
n
Connections can be Full Duplex (32Mbps)
Shared User Ring
CAU/LAM or
Chassis
Switched ring
Desktop
Switch
The CAU/LAM is the ring. Users share the bandwidth available on
that ring - typically 16Mbps these days.
A ring can support over 250 users in theory, but in practice this
number is better limited to around 80. Even at this reduced number,
power users may suffer from ‘bandwidth starvation’! The DeskStream
allows them to each have a full 16Mbps since each port is its own
ring. If the adapter driver will support it, the connection can be full
duplex DTR which allows a maximum throughput of 32Mbps.