What is multiplex?

You should thank adowns for doing your homework.

yeah. sounds impressive. but i had to use word prior to NAT, so it really depends.... on..

Oh, well (<sigh>) There are some simple websites to bookmark for general info on simple terms. Among them WhatIs. Using it produces a networking perspective and details of another, more original kind (note that 'details' can clarify more or confuse more, depending on background and needs, and that there are other perspectives to same question):

"multiplexing

Multiplexing is sending multiple signals or streams of information on a carrier at the same time in the form of a single, complex signal and then recovering the separate signals at the receiving end. analog signals are commonly multiplexed using frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), in which the carrier bandwidth is divided into subchannels of different frequency widths, each carrying a signal at the same time in parallel. digital signals are commonly multiplexed using time-division multiplexing (TDM), in which the multiple signals are carried over the same channel in alternating time slots. In some optical fiber networks, multiple signals are carried together as separate wavelengths of light in a multiplexed signal using dense wavelength division multiplexing(DWDM). "

Sure you always have your classic dictionary defination for a technical term, though it may sound good as we all know 75% of the time it means nothing unless you can relate to how it actually works. Thats what I provided, a desription every person with a basic networking background could understand. There are many many other ways its used, but unless you understand WAN technologies and the OSI model its going to sound just as foreign as the definition. I hope its enough.

Heh. Just to add to the turmoil:

I usually try to describe things in a "lowest common denominator" manner when talking with someone whom I do not know their level of experience. Therefore, for me, the simplest "definition" of multiplexing is Cable TV; something many people have and seem to have a very basic understanding of.

Think of home-based cable reception: The cable company comes in, installs a wire from the pole to your house, and Viola!, depending on the package you ordered you can have anywhere from just your local stations to upwards of 1000 tv stations delivered to your tv.

This is done, basically, by filling the cable with all of the tv signals at once, and having your tv (or tuner) "filter out" all of the rest of the channels so you only receive one channel at a time.

No networking inferences, no OSI model, no specific uses of multiplexing, etc. Just a very simple explanation of a potentially highly technical topic.

;-) for easier approach, consider instead, demultiplexing

I was definately considering describing multiplexing with a differant technology for easy of understanding, but I wanted to follow the origional question of what multiplexing is used for in a network.

?

Sunbow,

If you are looking for the answer to demultiplexing, in my previous example considering cable TV, the TV is the demultiplexer.

Demultiplexing is basically taking a multiplexed signal - such as the cable TV channels - and separating them out into individual signals again. Following the previous example, when you select a channel on your TV, you are demultiplexing the multiple signals and only accepting the signals for that channel.

However, in true multiplexing/demultiplexing usage, all signals are used for one purpose or another, rather than in the TV example where you are basically filtering out one signal for use.

CyberStretch, no, I not looking, but noted that the one (either) must imply the other, while it was seemingly neglected in this now unattended thread.

I think you've captured the premise quite visually and succinctly (eg: well done).

Just for the heck of it . . .

CyberStretch,

Why do you say that in "true" muxing/demuxing all signals are used? That would imply that every large circuit which isn't fully utilized isn't really being muxed or demuxed. In fact, I'd say your TV analogy isn't demuxing at all and you noted that fact yourself by saying that the signal is filtered . . . which is a totally different technology.

How about . . . the airport is the "mux / demux" and the airplane is the transport. The passengers are "muxed" onto the airplane (that is they arrive by independent means and paths at the airport) and they fly via common carrier to the "demux" facility, where they deplane and go by independent means and paths to a final destination. This might describe time division multiplexing.

For frequency division multiplexing, how about this analogy . . . Your mouth, teeth, and saliva are the "mux" and the other components of your digestive system, your stomach and digestive juices, are the "demux". You take bread and peanut butter and jelly and stuff them into your mouth where your teeth and saliva "mux" these components into a complex wave form, you swallow (common carrier) and the bolus -- I think that's what I remember from 8th grade Science -- ends up in your stomach where it is demuxed.

Wake up mandy9! It's a brand new day!

Steve

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