Introduction to Data Communications
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30. Multiplexing

Multiplexing is the transmission of multiple data communication sessions over a common wire or medium. Multiplexing reduces the number of wires or cable required to connect multiple sessions. A session is considered to be data communication between two devices: computer to computer, terminal to computer, etc..

Individual lines running from 3 terminals to one mainframe is not a problem but when the number of terminals increases to 10 and up, it becomes a problem. Imagine a mainframe computer with 1200 terminals connected and each terminal running its own wire to the mainframe. If each wire was 1/4" in diameter (typical Cat 5 cable), you would have a wiring bundle going into the computer, roughly 2 feet in diameter.

Introduction to Data Communications
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