Difference between IEEE 802.3, 802.4 and 802.5

The IEEE 802 is a set of protocols that is employed in the management of network protocols.In IEEE standard IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.4, and IEEE 802.5 are known as Ethernet, token bus, and token ring networks. Each standard has its own topology, access control, and frame format for. In this article, we will see these standards differences, advantages and disadvantages in detail.

What is IEEE 802.3? 

IEEE 802. 3 is the standard of Ethernet that is used in the bus topology, whereby the devices are connected directly to the communication line and are served in turns to enable them to access the line. The CSMA/CD protocol is used by the network in order to manage the access acknowledging collision while it is trying to put through data packets. For data sending, a device has to listen in order not to interrupt some other device that may be transmitting. In case two devices are transmitting at the same time, this is handled by collision detection that will ensure both devices are made to stop transmitting, after which transmission is resumed after a certain interval of time has been created. 

Advantages of IEEE 802. 3 

• Simple Protocol: CSMA/CD makes the ease of implementation of Ethernets.
• Cost-effective: IEEE 802. 3 uses basic technology without modems and other modem fancy equipment; thus, it avoids the need to make extra expense in installation or for timely maintenance. 
• Widespread Adoption: Currently, Ethernet is one of the most popular established network standards across the globe, which simply means that compatibility of Ethernet hardware and software equipment will comprise switches, routers, and NICs. 

Disadvantages of IEEE 802.3

• Decreased Efficiency at High Loads: If the number of devices in the network rises, then the collision incidences are more frequent, hence pulling down the efficiency and the throughput of large networks. 
• Not Suitable for Real-Time Applications: Due to the fact that it is a collision-based system, IEEE 802. 3 is not good for real-time operation requirements such as video conferencing and live streaming, playing games, and so on. 
• Limited Priority Support: Many networks do not have a mechanism of identifying which of the data packets is more important than others. This is particularly the case where several packages of data have to get to a specific destination before other nonurgent packages like videos or voice do. 

What is IEEE 802. 4? 

IEEE 802. 4 explains what token bus standards are. Token passing is a protocol in which there is a token—a specific data packet that passes through the stations that may be formed in a bus or tree topology. Every station that possesses the token is allowed to transmit data, and therefore, there can never be a collision of data. Thus, this token-passing method is more controllable with access than to the CSMA/CD due to the structured store and forward nature of the protocol. 

Advantages of IEEE 802. 4 

• High Efficiency Under Heavy Load: Token Bus networks are specifically ideal for high-traffic networks, as collisions are completely eliminated notwithstanding the size of the network. 
• Prioritization of Stations: Standard: IEEE 802. 4 It makes some stations have charge over others so as to ensure that the important jobs are processed first. This is important, especially in industrial applications or the overall network, when some or certainly certain data has to be updated in real time, for instance. 
• Real-Time Traffic Support: This is because it allows real-time data transfer since the token allows only those who have authorized access to the network; it is therefore ideal in the industrial area that needs frequent data transfer. 

Disadvantages of IEEE 802. 4 

• Complex Protocol: Token passing protocol, which is much more complex to be implemented in comparison to CSMA/CD. It employs other interface equipment, for instance, the modems, and therefore, the general start-up and operational costs of such a system are usually high. 
• Less Flexibility: Logical ring also suggests that for opposing Ethernet networks, adding or removing the stations in the network is complicated. 
• Obsolete in Modern Networks: Today the token bus networks are not widely used due to Ethernet and are very easily substitutive by others faster, cheaper, and simpler networks. 

What is IEEE 802. 5? 

The token ring standard is one in which the stations aggregate IS in what can physically be referred to as a ring where the token is passed from one station to another. Like in Token Bus, the token grants permission to send, but the physical layout of the network is not the same. URLs in the ring create positions for a token in the organization of the token ring. 

Advantages of IEEE 802. 5 

• No Collision: Like in Token Bus, Token Ring does not have collision data in the network because only one station sends data in the network at a particular period of time. 
•  Support for Large Data Transfers: Other vile standards which he pointed that regulated the size of fields in the data frames differed from the IEEE 802. 5 is for variable size data frames which makes its use useful in instances that involve large data frames such as file transfer or a video stream. 
• Real-Time and Interactive Applications: Because there is no limit in data field size and very efficient network topology, Token Ring most suits for real-time applications like video conferencing, online games, and client-server activities. 

Disadvantages of IEEE 802. 5 

• Moderate Complexity: Relative to the other network, the token ring can be considered as moderate complex because, in order for the communication between the stations to occur properly, modems are needed. This is time-consuming and expensive, hence contributing to the total cost of developing the network. 
• Dependency on Token: Of course, the entire network is associated with the functionality of the token. The problem with this setup is that if the token has been lost or becomes corrupted, the network halts and would take time before sorting, which in the process creates downtimes. 
• Less Popular in Modern Networks: Token Ring networks are comparatively costly and elaborate than the Ethernet networks and hence are not so widely used as the latter. Ethernet dominates current-day networks because of the simplicity of the technology and the fact that it is cheaper than the token ring.

Difference between IEEE 802.3, 802.4 and 802.5

Conclusion 

IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.4, and IEEE 802.5 to suit different needs of the network topology and functionality. While IEEE 802. 3 (ethernet) is the most used because of its simplicity and also because the cost is relatively cheap as compared to the rest, IEEE 802. 4 (token bus) and IEEE 802. 5 (token ring) ensure that there is structured access control as well as high throughput in cases that demand real-time processing of data. But token bus and token ring are much more complicated as compared to Ethernet, and they are not used widely in modern networks as well.