9-1Chapter 9Expansion - Token RingThis chapter deals with the addition of capabilities or user connections to existing networkconfigurations using the MMAC family of modular hubs.Single RingA network consisting of only one Token Ring is referred to as a single ringconfiguration. All the stations in the network are connected to the single ring, andtransmissions from any station on the ring are received by all other stations on thering.Adding StationsBefore you add stations to any Token Ring network, you must determine if thenetwork can support the additional stations. Token Ring networks reach theirmaximum user counts more rapidly than Ethernet or FDDI networks, and anetwork that goes beyond the limits set by the IEEE 802.5 standards will be proneto repeated failures.Before planning an expansion of a Token Ring, count the number of stations youhave on the ring (remember to include devices such as bridges or routers asstations). Refer to the Token Ring limitations table provided in Chapter 6, TokenRing. Examine the entry for your ring speed, preferred circuitry type (active orpassive) and for your lowest-quality cabling. If the expansion you plan causes thenumber of stations on the ring to exceed the limit shown, you cannot add the fullnumber of stations.If the ring can, however, support more stations, the expansion of the network is assimple as selecting a Token Ring MIM which provides the port and connectorstyle you require and determining how many you need to accommodate the usersor stations to be added. These new TRMIMs are then added to the chassis,adjacent to the other Token Ring MIMs on this ring.
