<P> A Media Access Unit (MAU), also known as a Multistation Access Unit (MAU or MSAU) is a device to attach multiple network stations in a star topology as a token ring network, internally wired to connect the stations into a logical ring (generally passive i.e. non-switched and unmanaged; however managed token ring MAUs do exist in the form of CAUs, or Controlled Access Units). </P> <P> Passive token ring was an active IBM networking product in the 1997 time - frame, after which it was rapidly displaced by switched networking . </P>

In which topology is the central connecting device known as a multistation access unit (mau)