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PA-4R Half-Duplex Token Ring Port Adapter Installation and Configuration
OL-3589-01
Port Adapter Installation Prerequisites
Figure 1 Token Ring Network Physical Connections
Token Ring Connection Equipment
You will need an 802.5 MAU or an MSAU to provide the interface between the 4R port adapter Token
Ring interfaces and the external ring, and a Token Ring lobe cable between each 4R port adapter
interface and the MAU or MSAU. Lobe cables connect each Token Ring station (4R port adapter
interface) to the MAU or MSAU, and patch cables can connect adjacent MSAUs to form one large ring.
4R port adapter interfaces operate at either 4 or 16 Mbps. The default speed for all 4R port adapter
interfaces is 4 Mbps, which you can change to 16 Mbps on any port using the ring-speed n configuration
command, where n is the speed (4 or 16) in Mbps. The speed of each Token Ring port must match the
speed of the ring to which it is connected. Before you enable the Token Ring interfaces, ensure that each
is set for the correct speed, or it can bring down the ring.
Caution Each 4R port adapter interface must be configured for the same ring speed as the ring to which it is
connected, either 4 or 16 Mbps. If the port is set for a different speed, it will cause the ring to beacon,
which effectively brings the ring down and makes it inoperable.
Token Ring Distance Limitations
The maximum transmission distance is not defined for IEEE 802.5 (Token Ring) networks. Shielded
twisted-pair (STP) cabling is most commonly used for rates of 4 and 16 Mbps. Twisted-pair cabling is
more susceptible to interference than other types of cabling; therefore, the network length and repeater
spacing should be planned accordingly.
Ring
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Ring
out
Stations
Ring
in12345678
Ring
out
Stations
MAU or MSAU
Ring
in12345678
Ring
out
Stations
Ring
in12345678
Ring
out
Stations
Lobe
cables
Patch
cables
H2058
MAU or MSAU
MAU or MSAU
MAU or MSAU