Section 23.9: Ethernet (Frame 8)                     [prev][home][     ]

Fig. 23.9.4 shows a pictorial representation of a collision between senders.


Fig. 23.9.4: Ethernet collision

Yet when many of the attached computers are trying to transmit on the same Ethernet, the number of collisions may rise exponentially to the point where no one is able to transmit useful data over the LAN. In this case, we say the LAN is saturated. Ethernets are prone to saturation, especially when there are many attached computers and they are constantly using it. Another LAN technology, token ring, does not have this problem.