IBM 02G7165 – IBM 16/4 Token Ring Adapter

Detailed Description:

The IBM 02G7165 is an IBM 16/4 Token Ring Adapter, reflecting an older generation of networking technology that was widely used in corporate networks before the dominance of Ethernet. This adapter supports a 16 Mbps (megabits per second) data transfer rate, suitable for its time, and uses the Token Ring protocol for network communications. The Token Ring protocol, characterized by the way data is passed sequentially between nodes in a ring format, offers a method of preventing data collision, thereby ensuring a reliable network environment. This adapter is specifically designed for desktop and server connections that require Token Ring’s methodical data transfer approach. Despite the predominance of faster, more scalable Ethernet-based networks, the IBM 16/4 Token Ring Adapter remains a critical piece for maintaining legacy systems in certain government, banking, and manufacturing environments where changing network infrastructure is impractical due to high costs or regulatory compliance issues. Its continued use underscores the importance of backward compatibility and support for historical network technologies in the enterprise IT landscape.