Medium access protocols

• Medium access protocols

Multiple network nodes often share the same medium.
For example, several computers might connect to a wireless access point or plug into an Ethernet hub.
We need a protocol to decide which one can access the medium if more than one has information to send at the same time.
We need a media access protocol (MAC)

Some MAC protocols

CSMA/CA, Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance:
CSMA/CD, Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection:
Polling:
Token ring:
RTS/CTS, Request to Send/Clear to Send:

http://bpastudio.csudh.edu/fac/lpress/471/hout/netech/mac.htm