TITLE
LocalTalk, Ethernet, TokenRing: Media Performance Characteristics
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Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
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24218
11/14/97
11/8/98
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TOPIC
Can you compare some of the performance characteristics of various media (cabling) with LocalTalk, EtherTalk, and TokenTalk?
DISCUSSION
The following tables list some of the characteristics for various media when used with LocalTalk, EtherTalk, and TokenTalk.
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LocalTalk Transmission Media Comparison
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Medium
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Transmission Rate
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Topology
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Max. Number
of Devices
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Max. Length
per Network
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Apple's Unshielded Twisted Pair
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230.4 Kbps
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Bus
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32
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1000 ft.
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Unshielded Twisted Pair
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230.4 Kbps
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Bus
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24
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1800 ft.
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230.4 Kbps
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Passive Star
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varies
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750 ft. per branch, 4000 ft. total
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230.4 Kbps
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Active Star
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254
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Infrared Light
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230.4 Kbps
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n/a
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128 per receiver
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transceivers must be within 70 ft. diameter
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Ethernet Transmission Media Comparison
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Medium
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Min. Distance
Between Nodes
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Max. Length
Per Segment
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Max. Length
Per Network(1)
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Max. Number
of Devices
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Transmission
Speed
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Standard
Supported
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Thin Coax
(10Base2)
Bus Topology
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1.6 ft.
(0.5 m)
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600 ft.
(185 m)
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3000 ft.
(925 m)
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30/segment(2)
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10Mbps
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IEEE 802.3
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Thick Coax
(10Base5)
Bus Topology
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8.2 ft.
(2.5 m)
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1640 ft.
(500 m)
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8200 ft.
(2500 m)
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100/segment(2)
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10Mbps
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IEEE 802.3
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Twisted-pair
(10BaseT)
Active-star Topology
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n/a
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328 ft.
(100 m)
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328 ft.
(100 m)
from hub(2)
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1024
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10Mbps
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IEEE 802.3
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Table Notes
(1) with use of repeaters
(2) segment figure is for contiguous length of cable without repeaters.
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TokenRing Transmission Media Comparison
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Medium
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Transmission Rate
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Topology
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Max. Number
of Devices
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Max. Length
per Network
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Shielded Twisted Pair
(IBM Type 1 or 2)
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4/16Mbps
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Star-wired ring
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260/ring
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990 ft. from MAU to node
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Unshielded Twisted Pair
(IBM Type 3)
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4/16Mbps
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Star-wired ring
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72/ring
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330 ft. from MAU to node
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Note:
Cable (media) specifications can change, so be sure and check with the cable (media) vendors for current cable specifications.
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