Acronym for Attached Resources Computing Network. A network available from the Datapoint Corporation and other vendors that can connect a wide variety of PCs and workstations (up to a maximum of 255) on coaxial, twisted-pair, or fiber-optic cable. ARCnet uses a proprietary token-passing access method at speeds of 2.5Mbps. ARCNet Plus is Datapoint's proprietary product that runs at 20Mbps.
ARCNet was popular for smaller networks, because it is relatively easy to set up and to operate and also because the components are inexpensive and widely available. These days, however, it is showing its age and is no longer sold by the major vendors.
See also Token Ring network.