A multimedia link unit (MAU) connects computers to an Ethernet backbone. It is also known as a token ring. MAUs exchange data or tokens between computers connected to it and other computers connected to the LAN via Ethernet. However, token ring implementation has fallen out of favor with Ethernet network interface cards.
A multimedia link unit (MAU) is a device that connects computers to an Ethernet backbone. The device uses the connection unit interface port on a computer to connect one or more stations to an Ethernet network that does not have any Ethernet network adapters installed.
The common terminology seen when referring to a MAU is a token ring. The computers in the token ring are daisy-chained, and each section of the network is connected to a MAU. The MAU is then connected to the Ethernet LAN.
The media link unit is used to exchange data or tokens between computers connected to it and other computers connected to the LAN via Ethernet. The token portion of a token ring network describes the method used to detect collisions between data transmissions and retry submissions to ensure data is delivered.
A media link unit can be built into computers or it can be a separate device that many computers are connected to. The best way to understand how a network using a media link unit works is to think of the device as separate from the PC. A group of multiple PCs will likely be connected to the same MAU. As one computer sends packets to the network, other computers may also be transmitting. It is the function of the MAU to ensure that each PC is able to transmit data, by providing each PC with a token for a predetermined period of time. During this time, the PC holding the token can transmit data. This helps reduce the number of collisions between data packets traversing the network.
In recent years, the token ring implementation has fallen out of favor with Ethernet network interface cards which are typically built into newer computers and operate at much higher speeds than a token ring network using media link units. A token ring network can operate at 4 or 16 megabits per second, whereas an Ethernet-based network and directly attached computers with NICs can operate at speeds of 10, 100, or even 1000 megabits per second.
As computers have gotten faster and networks more popular, the media link unit and token ring network have become too slow to handle the applications and bandwidth provided and used by newer equipment. There are some fiber-based networks that work similar to a token ring network, but the cost of implementing these technologies is very high and impractical for many organizations.
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