What is Token Ring? What IEEE standard does it conform to?

Token ring is a relatively expensive LAN architecture that is strongly influenced by IBM. It is very stable and can be expanded without a significant degradation in network performance.

Token ring uses the token passing media access control. Data transmission normally occurs at 4 or 16 Mbps depending on the cable.

Token ring is normally implemented in a logical ring/physical star topology with a MAU (Multistation Access Unit) as the hub. The maximum number of stations on one ring is 260 for shielded twisted pair and 72 for unshielded twisted pair (UTP). There can be up to 33 MAUs per ring.

Token Ring LANs normally use shielded twisted pair (STP) but may also use unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or fiber-optic cable. The maximum distance to the MAU from the workstation depends on the cable and varies from 45 meters for UTP to 100 meters for STP.

The Token Ring architecture conforms generally to the IEEE�s 802.5 specification