Setting up LINUX on a TOKEN RING NETWORK:

Disclaimer : This document will help users on a Token Ring network. Read all documents that come with your system just use this as a guide not as the BIBLE OF LINUX.

In some systems Token Ring networks are the perferred method. You will note that token ring cards are not as popular as ethernet. I use 3Com ethernet card in my independent lab system. Whereas, in my alter ego corporate world situation, I use an IBM Token Ring Auto 16/4 ISA adapter. There are several that are compatible. I have found the IBM Tropic chip set cards to be compatible with LINUX 2.0.26. Thomas Conrad has yet to make it easy to create a driver on LINUX. Some supported token ring cards are the following. This list is not complete:

  1. HyperRing Classic 16/4
  2. IBM Token Ring Auto 16/4 ISA adapter
  3. IBM Token Ring Auto 16/4 adapter /A
  4. IBM Token Ring 16/4 adapter /A
  5. IBM Token Ring adapter /A
  6. 3Com 3C619B Token Link
  7. 3Com 3C619C Token Link

  1. You must compile your kernel to include a token ring card setup. In earlier versions before 2.0.0. This may require you to upload a patch. The patches should allow you to set up a supported token ring card.
  2. Once, your card is registered by your kernel you must change your network config boot file. In the slackware version, this is located in /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.
  3. The main change involves changing /sbin/ifconfig eth0 ${IPADDR} broadcast ${BROADCAST} netmask ${NETMASK} to /sbin/ifconfig tr0 ${IPADDR} broadcast ${BROADCAST} netmask ${NETMASK} Note, eth0 is changed to tr0.
  4. Make sure all your changes to your IP addreess, broadcast address (if any), netmask, and gateway are properly intialize in this config file.
  5. In other versions of Linux you may want to use their config utlity routines. Make sure that you refer to you token ring card (tr0) as oppose to an ethernet card (eth0).

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