Figure 1
The interactive simulation will be built using Microsoft's Visual C++, by taking advantage of the graphing user interface that is provided by that software technology. The design of the interactive simulation, will be done so that the user will have to interact with the simulation and through there interaction they will gain an understanding of the Token Ring protocol, its functionality and implementation. Figure 1 demonstrates the appearance that the interactive simulation will have to the user. The rectangles shown in Figure 1 represent host computers, and the coin represents the Token that is sent between these computers in order determine which host computer will be able to send packets over the network. The user will be able to enter the amount of host computer within a range from 2 to 8. Once the number of hosts is selected, the user will then be able to start the simulation by clicking Simulation on the console applications toolbar, as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2
Before the simulation begins the user will have to select the desired host computer that is to send packets, this is where the user interaction takes place. When the token comes in the vicinity of the selected host computer it will be taken off the ring, and the host computer will but the packet that it wants to transmit on the ring. This packet will traverse the ring once, and upon returning to the selected host computer it will be taken off and the token placed back on the ring. This is the basic functionality that our Interactive Simulation will provide to the user. This interactive simulation is built using Visual C++, it will be able to run on any windows 2000 or windows XP machine. Our plan is to put the application on a web and make it available for downloads for any willing to use it. Also, if time also a java applet version of the Token Ring Protocol demonstrating the functionality listed above will be built and deployed on the website.