Question

Discuss the differences between an Ethernet LAN and a Token Ring LAN. Develop an evidence-based opinion on why Ethernet Technology became predominant.

How and why would you want to set up a Virtual LAN? Would you need extra equipment? Would it slow the operation of the main LAN?

Answer 1

TOKEN LAN

Ring Passes over a physical ring that we can say Token Ring. Token ring is defined by IEEE 802.5 standard

1 . There is only one token.In which at any given time only one station is able to use the LAN. It is single access

2. The token passing mechanism is used.

3. it is deterministic

4. It is a Star shaped topology

5. It costs more than Ethernet.

6. It ring contains routing information.

Ethernet LAN

Ethernet LAN is defined by IEEE 802.3 standard.

All station will be closed if many stations exist at the same time to talk. To resume them, we need Wait for a random time. it doesn't employ any priorities and less costly than token ring network.

1. Ethernet is a shared access medium, where all stations have equal access to the network at the same time

2. CSMA/CD(Carrier-sense multiple access/collision detection) mechanism is used

3. It is non-deterministic

4.Ethernet is a Bus shaped topology

5. Ethernet cost se 70% less than token ring

6. Ethernet does not contain routing information

It became Predominant Because of following

a) Ethernet Network Reliability

Highly reliable networks are the critical to success of MNC and enterprises so ease of installation and support are primary consideration Today, Ethernet networks are quickly proceed towards the reliability level associated with their telephone ancestors, and are relatively simple to understand and administer

b) Availability of Management and Troubleshooting Tools

Ethernet troubleshooting tools span a range of capabilities, from simple link indicator lights to advanced network analyzers. As a result of Ethernet’s demand, large numbers of people have been trained on its installation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

c)Scalability

The Fast Ethernet standard, accepted in 1995, established Ethernet as a scalable technology. Now, the development of Gigabit Ethernet, accepted in 1998, extends the scalability of Ethernet even further. Now Ethernet scales from 10 - 100 - 1000 MBPS

d)Low Cost

Because of this following advantage we need to setup a virtual LAN

· Performance i–The inetwork itraffic iis ifull iof ibroadcast iand imulticast. iVLAN ireduces ithe ineed ito isend isuch itraffic ito iunnecessary idestination.e.g-If ithe itraffic iis iintended ifor i2 iusers ibut ias i10 idevices iare ipresent iin ithe isame ibroadcast idomain itherefore iall iwill ireceive ithe itraffic ii.e iwastage iof ibandwidth ibut iif iwe imake iVLANs, ithen ithe ibroadcast ior imulicast ipacket iwill igo ito ithe iintended iusers ionly.

Formation iof ivirtual igroups i– iAs ithere iare idifferent idepartments iin ievery iorganisation inamely isales, ifinance ietc., iVLANs ican ibe ivery iuseful iin iorder ito igroup ithe idevices ilogically iaccording ito itheir idepartments.

· Security i– iIn ithe isame inetwork, isensitive idata ican ibe ibroadcast iwhich ican ibe iaccessed iby ithe ioutsider ibut iby icreating iVLAN, iwe ican icontrol ibroadcast idomains, iset iup ifirewalls, irestrict iaccess. iAlso, iVLANs ican ibe iused ito iinform ithe inetwork imanager iof ian iintrusion. iHence, iVLANs igreatly ienhance inetwork isecurity.

· Flexibility i– iVLAN iprovide iflexibility ito iadd, iremove ithe inumber iof ihost iwe iwant.

· Cost ireduction i– iVLANs ican ibe iused ito icreate ibroadcast idomains iwhich ieliminate ithe ineed ifor iexpensive irouters.

· By iusing iVlan, ithe inumber iof ismall isize ibroadcast idomain ican ibe iincreased iwhich iare ieasy ito ihandle ias icompared ito ia ibigger ibroadcast idomain.

Yes we need Extra instrument with LAN to make it virtual Like Router , hub etc

Yes it also slow down the operation respect to main LAN because of Packets Loss and distortion in air .