Collision avoidance requirement: You need a LAN technology that inherently prevents collisions on the medium while providing orderly access. Which option best satisfies this requirement?

Introduction / Context:
Media access control determines how multiple nodes share a LAN without interfering. Some methods allow contention (collisions may occur and are handled), while others serialize access so collisions do not occur in the first place. Choosing a collision-free method can be important for deterministic latency and legacy equipment compatibility.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Goal: avoid collisions on the shared medium.
• Consider classic wired LAN technologies and access methods.
• Deterministic token-passing is acceptable.

Concept / Approach:
Token-Ring uses a circulating token; only the station holding the token transmits. Because at most one station transmits at a time, collisions are inherently prevented. In contrast, CSMA/CD (legacy shared Ethernet) allows collisions and resolves them with backoff, while CSMA/CA (wireless) reduces—but does not entirely eliminate—collisions due to hidden nodes and timing limits. ARCnet also uses token passing, but Token-Ring is the canonical answer in common curricula.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks consistently categorize Token-Ring as collision-free by design. Modern switched Ethernet also avoids collisions per port, but the protocol family historically relied on CSMA/CD for shared segments.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming modern Ethernet never collides due to switches, which is true per-port but not the same as a token-based MAC that enforces serialized access.

Final Answer:
Token-Ring.