Cabletron Systems STS16-20R - Manual (Page 32)

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SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R Token Ring Switches Installation and User Guide Switch Overview
Multiple Simultaneous Conversations
A limitation of Token Ring is that it supports only one packet at a time. The
SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R improves data throughput by supporting
multiple, simultaneous, full-duplex conversations. By using High-Speed bus
switching technology, the SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R creates multiple
data paths. These switched connections between Token Ring segments last only for
the duration of a byte transmission. New connections are made “on-the-fly”
between different ports on the switch for the next byte.
Figure 5. Multiple Conversations Through a SmartStack
STS16-20RM Switch
For example, as shown in Figure 5, while host A is transmitting a byte to host B,
the SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R connects only the lines from A to B since
there is no need to send packets to all other ports. At the same time, a second
switching circuit can connect host C to host D. The result: Two packets are sent
simultaneously.
➽ Note: The SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R transmits broadcast and multicast
packets on several SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R ports simultaneously.