IBM PC Network
| Industry | Computer networking |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Products | Network cards, NetBIOS device driver |
The IBM PC Network represented IBM's initial foray into LAN technology for the IBM PC. This system comprised network cards, connecting cables, and a compact device driver known as NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System), which facilitated data transfer rates with carrier-sense multiple access alongside collision detection.
Created by Sytek Inc, NetBIOS functioned as an application programming interface enabling software to communicate across the IBM PC Network LAN by utilizing Sytek's networking protocols. IBM's subsequent Token Ring network replicated the NetBIOS API, which remained in use in later implementations.
Broadband
The first broadband iteration, introduced in 1984, transmitted signals over 75 Ω co-axial cable compatible with cable television infrastructure, with each network card linking through a single F connector. Distinct transmit and receive frequency bands allowed multiple devices to send data concurrently at each frequency. A Sytek head-end unit handled the conversion between these frequencies. The use of Frequency-division multiplexing enabled the simultaneous carriage of voice, video, and data on the same cable.
Baseband
By 1987, a more economical baseband version was developed, operating at , which connected computers in a daisy-chain configuration using twisted-pair wiring terminated by 6P2C modular telephone connectors. Network interface cards incorporated two 6P2C ports to connect adjacent nodes; terminators and wrap plugs were applied at the ends of the chain. Additionally, a hybrid star topology could be established by integrating a hub into the setup.