Token Ring

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope

Token Ring or IEEE 802.5 is a networking technology created by Olof S. Söderblom and introduced by IBM in 1984 where all computers are connected in a circular fashion. The term token describes a segment of information that's sent through that circle. When a computer on the network can decode that token, it receives data. The token ring is used by ARCnet (Attached Resource Computer network), token bus and FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface). Today, 802.5 and token ring are considered inactive.

Is Token Ring and ring topology the same?

Token Ring and ring topology are similar concepts, but they're different. Token Ring is a network protocol, and ring topology is a network configuration in a ring. A network that's using Token Ring doesn't mean it's using a ring topology.

IEEE, MAU, Network terms, Ring topology, STP cable, Token