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U.S. Department of Energy
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Evaluation of the IBM token-ring network via the proposed standard wiring plan

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6274540· OSTI ID:6274540
When installing a local area network (LAN), one of the decisions that must be made is the type of cabling to use. The choice is among twisted-pair, coaxial, or fiber optic cables. Each type has trade-offs. Twisted-wire cable's advantages over coaxial cable are its light weight, small size, flexibility, relative inexpensiveness, and ease of installation. Disadvantages include its lower bandwidth and installer's inexperience with it. Twisted pair, however, can be used in a modular wiring scheme, which makes for easy and safe portability. This report covers the results of a test of the IBM token-ring network, which communicates via a modular wiring scheme by using unshielded twisted pairs as its medium, to determine at what cable length token-ring network performance would degrade. Test configurations and results are reported, and recommendations specific to IBM token-ring equipment operation are made. Note: A companion report (ORNL/TM-11080) covers the results of tests with Ethernet twisted-pair products. 7 refs., 12 figs., 5 tabs.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6274540
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-11079; ON: DE89012920
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English